System for Treatment and Imaging Using Ultrasonic Energy and Microbubbles and Related Method Thereof

ABSTRACT

A method and related system for providing therapy to a treatment site, such as stenosis or other vasculature disease, at one or more locations of a subject, such as the vasculature. The method includes: advancing an ultrasound catheter to or in proximity to the subject&#39;s treatment site; infusing microbubbles into or proximal to the treatment site; and delivering ultrasonic energy from the ultrasound catheter. The ultrasonic energy may be adapted for: imaging the treatment site, translating the microbubbles into or in the vicinity of the treatment site and/or rupturing the microbubbles.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/000,632, filed Oct. 26, 2007, entitled “Molecular Targeted Microbubbles for Enhanced Blood Vessel Imaging and Therapeutic Treatment of Neointimal Hyperplasia;” and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/099,025, filed Sep. 22, 2008, entitled “Molecular Targeted Microbubbles for Enhanced Blood Vessel Imaging and Therapeutic Treatment of Neointimal Hyperplasia;” the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

Work described herein was supported by Federal Grant No. 5R01EB002185-07, awarded by the NIH. The Government has certain rights in the invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) was blamed for 37% of the 2.4M deaths in the US (2003) [1]. CVD is the leading cause of death in the US and the developed world.

Currently Available Drug-Eluting Stents (DES) Pose a Major Potential Health Concern

The clinical use of Drug Eluting Stents (DES), in relation to Bare Metal Stents (BMS), has evolved over a period of approximately 18 months from approximately 0% usage in the U.S., to the point where they were used in approximately 80% of coronary stent procedures in the U.S. [2, 3].

The above cited recent studies indicates that there is a significant, growing population (approximately 6 Million individuals worldwide [4]) who currently find themselves having been implanted with DES and face a choice between taking the expensive and risky drug clopidogrel—potentially for life—or increased risk of premature death.

The Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell, VCAM-1 and Rapamycin: Vascular SMC Proliferation Contributes to Angioplasty-Induced Stenosis and In-Stent Restenosis.

The primary function of the vascular SMC in adult animals is contraction and SMCs express a unique repertoire of genes that allow for this specialized form of contraction, including SM α-actin, smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (SMMHC), SM22α, calponin, desmin, smoothelin—genes we refer to as SMC differentiation marker genes [5-8]. This repertoire of genes is typically used to describe the “contractile” phenotype or mature SMC.

VCAM-1 is a Marker of the Phenotypically Modified/Proliferating SMC.

The changes in SMC gene expression profiles associated with injury-induced phenotypic modulation are transient. That is, SMCs undergo phenotypic modulation as a natural response to repair the injured blood vessel, transitioning from a contractile phenotype to a synthetic phenotype but revert back to a contractile phenotype as the lesion resolves itself. Thus, this continuum of altered SMC gene expression profiles can be used to target the phenotypically modified SMC that invests in the developing neointima using molecular targeting. VCAM-1 (vascular cell adhesion molecule 1) is expressed in proliferating SMCs [9, 10] and transiently upregulated in SMCs following acute vascular injury and in atherosclerotic lesions [11]. The function of VCAM-1 is to promote cell-cell interaction required for SMC migration and recruitment or attraction of other cell types into the lesion, e.g. VCAM-1 interaction on SMCs with integrins on leukocytes, monocytes or macrophages (all inflammatory cells) [9]. Because VCAM-1 is expressed at much lower levels in the quiescent contractile SMC phenotype, but increased in proliferating SMCs, VCAM-1 can thus be used to target the proliferating SMC.

Rapamycin is a Potent SMC Anti-Proliferative Agent and the Bench-Mark Agent for Preventing In-Stent Restenosis by Release from a DES.

The cell cycle consists of 5 basic steps: dormancy (G0) or the contractile SMC phenotype, gap phase 1 (G1), synthesis (S), pre-mitosis or gap phase 2 (G2) and mitosis (M). In response to acute vascular injury, SMCs leave G0 and enter G1 to begin the process of cell proliferation and division into M phase; this is the synthetic migratory or proliferative SMC phenotype. The strategies for preventing SMC proliferation and entry into the cell cycle have been to block various phases of the cell cycle once the cell has left G0 in response to injury or some acute growth stimulus. Sirolimus, or rapamycin, and its analogues, ABT578 (Abbot Pharmaceuticals) and everolimus, are immunosuppressants with both anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative properties that interfere early in the cell cycle by inhibiting the passage of cells from G1 to S phase. Drugs that inhibit cell cycle in the G1 phase are considered cytostatic and may be less toxic than drugs that act later in the cell cycle [12, 13]. Rapamycin is the most thoroughly investigated agent of this group and has become the bench-mark agent for the prevention of coronary artery restenosis [14]. Thus, because rapamycin is considered “cytostatic”, SMCs treated with rapamycin do not die but maintain their viability in the growth arrested state.

Molecular Targeting of Microbubble Carriers

Recent research has investigated the feasibility of targeted ultrasound contrast microbubbles as a means of detecting intravascular manifestations of disease. Pathology is often accompanied by alterations of the endothelial cell layer lining of the affected blood vessels. This dysfunction may occur in the microcirculation, and is identified by the selective expression or up-regulation of certain molecules on the vascular endothelial surface. Many of the molecular markers of endothelial dysfunction corresponding to disease states such as atherosclerosis [15], transplant rejection [16], inflammation and ischemia reperfusion injury [17] are well characterized. However, there is currently no non-invasive, clinically approved technique to assess the extent and location of such vascular pathologies. Experimental formulations of targeted microbubbles, which contain a surface-bound ligand specific for the intended target, are injected intravascularly and, after a short circulation period, are observed to accumulate at the target site. Subsequent ultrasound imaging enables determination of the location and extent of the targeted disease state [18]. This technique, known as “targeted contrast enhanced ultrasound”, may achieve high spatial resolution, real time imaging, and a linear or other measurable correlation between adherent microbubbles and the received signal.

There is therefore a need for, among other things, the drug, the drug carrier, and the means of localizing delivery; and a means to guide the focal delivery under real time image guidance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is a need for real time, noninvasive, imaging method to reliably guide the focal delivery of antiproliferative drug to regions at risk of restenosis following angioplasty and/or stenting.

An aspect of some of the various embodiments of the invention comprise an ultrasound contrast agent that have a selected drug incorporated into the bubble shell. In one embodiment, the drug may be rapamycin. It should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to any particular drug or class of drug, or agent (or any other type of medium or material being delivered to the location of the subject or the treatment site or diagnostic site of the subject. An aspect of various embodiments of the present invention may further comprise the means (a transducer [or transducer array] and its associated driving electronics) to deliver ultrasound energy (“therapeutic”) to break the bubbles in such a manner as to focally deliver drug material to selected local cells. For example, but not limited thereto, the selected cells are those on or in the wall of a selected blood vessel. The precise mechanisms and the optimal conditions for ultrasound mediated drug delivery are heretofore not well understood. What is known from extensive literature is that the combination of bubbles plus ultrasound greatly improve the delivery of drug (or gene) material through the cell membrane. In an approach, the “therapeutic” ultrasound transducer is intimately integrated with an “imaging” ultrasound transducer that provides real-time, noninvasive imaging for guiding the precise delivery of potent drugs to a selected tissue region. Similar transducers used clinically are referred to as intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) catheters. Typically, the design of an optimal imaging transducer and an optimal therapeutic transducer are different—e.g. the therapeutic transducer may operate in a high power transmit mode of about 0.5 to about 2 MHz, whereas the imaging transducer operates as a finely sampled imaging array about 5 to about 30 MHz range. It should be appreciated that other higher and lower frequency modes may, of course, be employed within the context of the invention as desired or required. Nevertheless, it is possible to make compromises in the transducer design and arrive at a common design for both imaging and therapeutic effect.

The combined transducer may be catheter-based, may transthoracically-based (i.e. “conventional” diagnostic ultrasound) and intravascularly, as is the case with IVUS—introduced through femoral or carotid artery. The transducer may also be introduced via any natural or synthetic body cavity/orifice (uretha, anus, vagina, mouth/esophagus or surgical incision in any body part). Transducer designs (or aspects thereof) for some of these applications or aspects of the applications may be known in context of conventional diagnostic ultrasound and most large vendors develop and market transducers for each of these applications.

The drug/contrast may be delivered systemically via intravenous (IV) injection or it may be delivered more locally such as from an aperture/conduit in a catheter placed into the veinous or arterial circulatory system.

The drug may exist “side by side” with the agent—i.e. the drug not bound into the bubble shell. When the drug is injected “side by side” it may be dissolved in any suitable solvent appropriate for that drug (e.g. water, lipid, alcohol, or solid form—for example, in very fine particle form—like nanoparticle, etc. Moreover, the drug could be in a gas or solid, for example, could be in the core or shell of the bubble (respectively)); in addition to being in the liquid phase, the drug may be used in the solid dosage forms, such as in nanoparticle formulations of kinds familiar to those skilled in the art.

The bubbles may be molecular targeted to enhance cell-specific selectivity—per the techniques, for example, described in the multiple papers by Klibanov [19, 20] and colleagues.

An aspect(s) of various embodiments of the present invention may be provide a number of novel and nonobvious features, elements and characteristics, such as but not limited thereto, the following: integrated image guidance of ultrasound-based local drug delivery; integrated image guidance of ultrasound-based local gene delivery; cell-specific molecular targeting of therapeutic agent; and ultrasound imaging-based estimation of the delivery of therapeutic agent.

An aspect of an embodiment or partial embodiment of the present invention (or combinations of various embodiments in whole or in part of the present invention) comprises a method of providing therapy to a treatment site at one or more locations of a subject. The method comprising: advancing an ultrasound catheter to or in proximity to the subject's treatment site, the catheter having a proximal region and distal region; infusing microbubbles from the distal region of the ultrasound catheter into or proximal to the treatment site; and delivering ultrasonic energy from the distal region of the ultrasound catheter. The ultrasonic energy adapted for: imaging the treatment site and rupturing the microbubbles. The ultrasonic energy may also adapted for translating the microbubbles.

An aspect of an embodiment or partial embodiment of the present invention (or combinations of various embodiments in whole or in part of the present invention) comprises an ultrasound catheter system for providing therapy to a treatment site at one or more locations of a subject. The system comprising: a tubular member having a proximal region and distal region, the proximal end of the ultrasound catheter adapted to advance to or in proximity to the subject's treatment site; a microbubble reservoir in hydraulic communication with the tubular member, the microbubble reservoir is adapted to release microbubbles that are intended to be located into or proximal to the treatment site; an ultrasonic energy source in communication with the distal region of the tubular member. The ultrasonic energy adapted for: imaging the treatment site and rupturing the microbubbles. The system further comprises a control circuitry configured to send electrical activation to the ultrasonic energy source. The ultrasonic energy may also adapted for translating the microbubbles.

A method and related system for providing therapy to a treatment site, such as stenosis or other vasculature disease, at one or more locations of a subject, such as the vasculature. The method includes: advancing an ultrasound catheter to or in proximity to the subject's treatment site; infusing microbubbles into or proximal to the treatment site; and delivering ultrasonic energy from the ultrasound catheter. The ultrasonic energy may be adapted for: imaging the treatment site, translating the microbubbles into or in the vicinity of the treatment site and/or rupturing the microbubbles.

These and other objects, along with advantages and features of the invention disclosed herein, will be made more apparent from the description, drawings and claims that follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and form a part of the instant specification, illustrate several aspects and embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description herein, and serve to explain the principles of the invention. The drawings are provided only for the purpose of illustrating select embodiments of the invention and are not to be construed as limiting the invention.

FIG. 1 provide a schematic illustration of an embodiment (or partial embodiment) of the present invention ultrasound catheter system 102 for providing therapy (and/or diagnosis) to a treatment site at one or more locations of a subject.

FIGS. 2(A)-(C) schematically illustrate various embodiments (or partial embodiments) of the present invention ultrasound catheter system for providing therapy (and/or diagnosis) to a treatment site at one or more locations of a subject.

FIGS. 3(A)-(C) schematically illustrate the arrays of the Forsberg array, Bouakaz array, and present invention embodiment array, respectfully.

FIG. 4 schematically illustrate an embodiments (or partial embodiment) of the present invention ultrasound catheter system.

FIG. 5: illustrates the epifluorescence microscopy observations (FIGS. 5A, B, C) and ultrasound backscatter imaging (FIGS. 5D, E, F) of adherent microbubbles. Microcapillaries infused with buffer alone show no microbubble adhesion (A) and no ultrasound signal (dashed box illustrates microcapillary location) (D). Few adherent microbubbles are visible in flow-only microcapillaries (B), and the corresponding echo is identifiable but weak. A large number of adherent microbubbles are present in a microcapillary exposed to radiation force at 122 kPa (C), and the corresponding echo is strong. Scale bar represents 5 μm.

FIG. 6 illustrates a 10 MHz (e.g., Sequoia CPS) image of mouse common carotid using microbubbles with dual targeting: polymeric sialyl LewisX (psLex) and anti-mouse VCAM-1. Cho et al. “Dual-Targeted Contrast” AHA Abstract 2006. See Weller G E, Villanueva F S, Tom E M, Wagner W R. Targeted ultrasound contrast agents: in vitro assessment of endothelial dysfunction and multi-targeting to ICAM-1 and sialyl Lewisx.

Biotechnol Bioeng. 2005 Dec. 20; 92(6):780-8, of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

FIG. 7 illustrates: at FIG. 7(A) a B-Mode of rat carotid (40 MHz, Vevo). Yellow arrows point to the blood vessel; at FIG. 7(B) a B-mode of a rat carotid artery (12 MHz); and at FIG. 7(C) 10 MHz ultrasound imaging using bubble sensitive/specific imaging mode. White tracing denotes the carotid artery wall. White Scale bars=10 mm.

FIG. 8 illustrates prototype pulse echo responses of dual layer (multi-frequency) transducer. FIG. 8 illustrates: at FIG. 8(A) a low frequency layer pulse-echo response; at FIG. 8(B) an Experimental high frequency pulse-echo response; at FIG. 8(C) an experimental high frequency pulse echo response after inverse filtering; and at FIG. 8(D) an FEA simulation of proposed, improved (better acoustic matching) high frequency layer design (without filtering) All plots are voltage echo response vs. time (μs)

FIG. 9 illustrates a diagram of targeted ultrasound contrast microbubble. The gas core is encapsulated by a lipid monolayer shell, which is coated with a PEG brush. The targeting ligand, here an anti-P-selectin monoclonal antibody, is secured to the distal tips of the polymers via a biotin-streptavidin link. Figure is not to scale.

FIG. 10 illustrates a microbubble adhesion at wall shear rate of 355 s-1 on P-selectin after insonation at 122 kPa (122 kPa on P-sel; n=4), adhesion on P-selectin after flow alone (0 kPa on P-sel; n=3), and adhesion on casein after insonation at 122 kPa (122 kPa on Casein—i.e. control); n=3). Mean number of adherent microbubbles per 10 optical fields+standard deviation. Insonated capillaries exhibited significantly greater adhesion (p<0.05) than that of the flow only or insonated capillaries at each condition examined. The break in vertical scale may be noted.

FIG. 11 illustrates an epifluorescence microscopy observations (FIGS. 11(A), 11(B), 11(C)) and ultrasound backscatter imaging (FIGS. 8(D), 8(E), 8(F)) of adherent microbubbles. Microcapillaries infused with buffer alone show no microbubble adhesion (A) and no ultrasound signal (dashed box illustrates microcapillary location) (FIG. 11 (D)). Few adherent microbubbles are visible in flow-only microcapillaries (FIG. 11 (B)), and the corresponding echo is identifiable but weak. A large number of adherent microbubbles are present in a microcapillary exposed to radiation force at 122 kPa (FIG. 11 (C)), and the corresponding echo is strong. Scale bar represents 5 μm.

FIGS. 12(A)-(B) schematically illustrate various embodiment (or partial embodiments thereof) of the present invention ultrasound catheter system.

FIG. 13 provides a plan schematic view of the microfluidic flow-focusing device or in-situ device.

FIGS. 14(A)-(B) provide a schematic elevation view of embodiments of the catheter system having occlusion or sealing systems.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 provides a schematic illustration of an embodiment (or partial embodiment) of the present invention ultrasound catheter system 102 for providing therapy to a treatment site at one or more locations of a subject. The system 102 may comprise a tubular member 118 such as a catheter or multiple catheters. The catheter(s) 118 having a proximal region 115 and distal region 117, whereby the proximal end of the ultrasound catheter is adapted or configured to be advanced to or in proximity to the subject's treatment site. It should be appreciated that any one of the catheters as shown may be a plurality of catheters and any given catheter may have one or more lumens or channels therein. The system further comprises a microbubble reservoir 132 in hydraulic communication with the tubular member. The microbubble reservoir is 132 may be located in the proximal region 115 and/or the proximal region 117 as desired or required. The microbubble reservoir is 132 may be adapted to release microbubbles that are intended to be located into or proximal to the treatment site. The system further comprises an ultrasonic energy 112 source in communication with the proximal region 115 and/or distal region 117 of the tubular member 118. The ultrasonic energy 112 may be capable of: imaging the treatment site, and/or rupturing the microbubbles. The ultrasonic energy 112 may be located outside or at least partially surrounding the subject 113 or patient. The system further comprises a control circuitry 100 or controller configured to send electrical activation to the ultrasonic energy source 112 or any components or subsystem affiliated with the catheter system 102. Further, the ultrasonic energy source 112 may provide ultrasonic radiation forces for translating the microbubbles into or in the vicinity of the treatment site; or alternatively the mechanical forces may be provided for translating the microbubbles into or in the vicinity of the treatment site, as well as a combination of both mechanical and ultrasonic forces (acoustic wave) to achieve the desired or required result.

The tubular member 118 and other components and subsystems affiliated with the catheter system 102 may be manufactured in accordance with a variety of techniques known to an ordinarily skilled artisan. Suitable materials and dimensions can be readily selected based on the natural and anatomical dimension of the treatment or diagnosis site and on desired percutaneous access site or exterior.

For example, in an exemplary embodiment, the tubular body proximal region 115 and/or distal region 117 comprises a material that has sufficient flexibility, kink resistance, rigidity and structural support to push the ultrasound energy source 112 through the patient's vasculature or organ to a treatment site or vicinity thereof. Examples of such materials include, but are not limited to, extruded polytetrafluoroethylene (“PTFE”), polyethylenes (“PE”), Pebax—made by Arkema, polyamides and other similar materials. In certain embodiments, the tubular body proximal region 115 and/or distal region 117 is reinforced by braiding, mesh or other constructions to provide increased kink resistance and ability to be pushed. For example, nickel titanium or stainless steel wires can be placed along or incorporated into the tubular member or body 118 to reduce kinking For example, various guidewires, sheaths and additional tubular members may be implemented to handle the communications, navigations, controlling and imaging, etc.

It should be appreciated that the aforementioned catheter device, reservoir, ultrasound, and controller may be disposed entirely inside the applicable location of the subject as desired or required, outside the location of the subject as desired or required or a combination of inside or outside the location of the subject. The one or more locations of the subject may be an organ. The organ may include hollow organs, solid organs, parenchymal tissue, stromal tissue, and/or ducts. The one or more locations of the subject may be a tubular anatomical structure. The tubular anatomical structure may be a blood vessel. Further, for example, the treatment site may be a vasculature treatment site comprising at least one of the following: stenosis region or any region exhibiting vascular disease.

In an approach, a manifold and/or axis port 114 couples several therapeutic and/or diagnostic devices typified by device 116 to the catheter system 102. A syringe, flow-driver or pumping device 124 is also in communication with the manifold 114. The catheter system 102 in turn may be delivered through a guide sheath 120 that may be in communication with a navigation guide 122. In operation the physician or user inserts one or more such catheter system 102 into the body of the subject 113, for instance on going into the leg, chest or skull (or other anatomical part or parts or subject region or regions to cover the hollow or solid organs, blood vessels, etc.) under imaging guidance or other applicable examination or intervention. The same or similar ultrasound visualization may be used to follow the progress of the one or more implant(s) both acutely and chronically. This catheter device may have various interior and peripheral lumens, chambers and channels. Such interior and peripheral lumens, chambers and channels may be used to deliver other devices and perform various diagnostic functions. For example, each lumen, chamber, and channel may communicate with a separate port of the manifold 114. A lumen, chamber or channel may contain a pressure transducer 128. Other lumens and channels may be devoted to an optical or other type of cell counter device, for example, as shown generically as device 119 in FIG. 1. Such a device may operate with two optical fibers (optical device or counter) located in two separate lumens and/or ports to measure the number of and viability of cells, agents, drugs or microbubbles delivered by the catheter. An example of fiber optics related application/technology is discussed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/444,884, filed May 23, 2003 (U.S. Application No. 2003/0204171, published Oct. 30, 2003), and of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

It should be appreciated that many other embodiments of controller, catheter system, ultrasound energy source(s), manifold and/or axis port, proximal region, therapeutic and/or diagnostic devices, distal region, tubular member, other lumen(s), pressure transducer, microbubble reservoir, microbubble propeller or microbubble translator or propeller, flow channeling and recirculation means, microcoil means, pump means, pressure and flow-rate monitor means, imaging means, computer means, drug-eluting stents (DES), and other details of construction and use constitute non-inventive variations of the novel and insightful conceptual means, system, and technique which underlie the present invention. An example of systems and methods that may be implemented with various embodiments of the present invention are provided in the following commonly owned Applications: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/444,884, filed May 23, 2003 (US Application No. 2003/0204171, published Oct. 30, 2003); PCT Application No. PCT/US2005/026738, filed Jul. 28, 2005; and PCT Application No. 2006/005876, filed Feb. 16, 2006, and of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

It should be appreciated that as discussed herein, a subject may be a human or any animal. It should be appreciated that an animal may be a variety of any applicable type, including, but not limited thereto, mammal, veterinarian animal, livestock animal or pet type animal, etc. As an example, the animal may be a laboratory animal specifically selected to have certain characteristics similar to human (e.g. rat, dog, pig, monkey), etc. It should be appreciated that the subject may be any applicable human patient, for example.

FIGS. 2(A)-(C) schematically illustrate various embodiments (or partial embodiments) of the present invention ultrasound catheter system for providing therapy to a treatment site at one or more locations of a subject. The catheter system 202 may comprise a tubular member 218 such as a catheter or multiple catheters. The catheter(s) having a proximal region and distal region, whereby the proximal end of the ultrasound catheter is adapted or configured to be advanced to or in proximity to the subject's treatment site. It should be appreciated that any one of the catheters 218 as shown may be a plurality of catheters and any given catheter may have one or more lumens therein. The system further comprises a microbubble reservoir 232 in hydraulic communication with the tubular member 218 and any lumens, channels, controllers or communication devices. The microbubble reservoir 232 is adapted to release microbubbles that are intended to be located into or proximal to the treatment site 210 at the desired or applicable location 211 of the subject. The system 202 further comprises an ultrasonic energy source 212 in communication with the distal region (or other region as desired or required) of the tubular member 218 (or other components or subsystems of the present invention). The ultrasonic energy is adapted for or capable of: imaging the treatment site 210, and rupturing the microbubbles. The system 202 further comprises a control circuitry 200 configured to send electrical activation to the ultrasonic energy source 212, as well as other components and subsystems of the present invention. Further, the ultrasonic energy source 212 may provide ultrasonic radiation forces for translating the microbubbles into or in the vicinity of the treatment site 210 at the desired or applicable location 211 of the subject; or alternatively the mechanical forces may be provided for translating the microbubbles into or in the vicinity of the treatment site 210, as well as a combination of both mechanical and ultrasonic forces (acoustic wave) to achieve the desired or required result.

It should be appreciated that the aforementioned catheter 218, reservoir 232, ultrasound 212, and controller 200 may be disposed entirely inside the applicable location of the subject, outside the location of the subject or a combination of inside or outside the location of the subject. The one or more locations 211 of the subject may be an organ. The organ may include hollow organs, solid organs, parenchymal tissue, stromal tissue, and/or ducts. The one or more locations 211 of the subject may be a tubular anatomical structure. The tubular anatomical structure may be a blood vessel. Further, for example, the treatment site 210 may be a vasculature treatment site comprising at least on of the following: stenosis region or any region exhibiting vascular disease. Further, for example, the treatment site 210 may be a vasculature treatment site and/or a diagnostic site.

Development of Transducer/Instrumentation to Optimize Delivery of a Therapeutic Agent by Microbubble Carrier.

Spatially localized, focused, non-invasive/minimally invasive treatments require appropriate non invasive real time imaging to guide the localization of the therapeutic (focal) region with respect to selected target site in the context of surrounding anatomy. This point may seem simple but it has profound implications for non-invasive treatment. This paradigm further suggests attention be paid to ensuring that the focused treatment zone be accurately and reliably aligned with whatever non-invasive imaging is used. The ideal model would be that the image plane is coincident with the therapeutic point, line or plane. Frequently, a small imaging array is placed centrally within an aperture “cut out” from a larger therapeutic array. Rosenschein [21] describes a 94 mm diameter therapeutic array into which a 7.5 MHz annular array is placed in concentric fashion. The system was used successfully for in vitro thrombolysis in bovine artery segments. Unger [22] describes (at least conceptually) a transducer design incorporating therapeutic and imaging array elements with a common front face plane. In this example, the therapeutic array is placed within a hole in the imaging array. A large central “hole” in an array aperture gives rise to a near-field blind spot and distorted sidelobe patterns—typically grating lobe related due to the poor spatial sampling implicit by virtue of the “hole” in the aperture. Until now, much work has involved fixturing an imaging array with respect to a therapeutic focused transducer/array [23-25]. An integrated imaging and therapeutic array, for example, was described by the University of Washington [26]. There is, however, no reason to believe that such an “integrated” array comprises exactly coincident “therapeutic” and imaging arrays as proposed here. The precise need for defining a required level of “integration” is a function of the particular application.

In the context of microbubble imaging, Bouakaz [27] has described a dual frequency transducer (0.9 MHz and 2.8 MHz) array using interspersed elements. The element spacing is 0.5 mm—i.e. λ spacing at 2.8 MHz. When using an interspersed element design it becomes doubly problematic to achieve adequate spatial sampling. Further, only <50% of potential active area for each array (in isolation) is available.

This loss of active area limits maximal acoustic power delivery. Forsberg [28] has also described a multifrequency array in which three linear arrays (2.5 MHz, 5 MHz and 10 MHz) were placed side-by-side with a common focal range (50 mm). This approach works well within the one fixed focal region but lacks the versatility to address other ranges.

In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, there may be provided the imaging array immediately over the therapeutic array. Some advantages of an embodiment of the present invention configuration may be illustrated in FIG. 3. FIGS. 3(A)-(C) schematically illustrate the arrays of the Forsberg array (see FIG. 3(A)) having elevational view—field intersection at one pre-selected range; Bouakaz array (see FIG. 3(B)) with alternating elements of high and low frequency and having poor sampling and 50% area use per array; and an exemplary present invention embodiment of the stacked arrays (see FIG. 3(C)) having fine sampling and 100% area usage. The transducer operating frequency may be inversely related to device thickness. The High and Low frequency transducer components denoted: HF and LF, respectively. All three transducers may be implemented with various embodiments of the present invention as desired or required.

FIG. 4 schematically illustrate an embodiment (or partial embodiment) of the present invention ultrasound catheter system 402 for providing therapy (as well as diagnostic if desired or required) to a treatment site at one or more locations of a subject. The catheter system 402 may comprise a tubular member such as a catheter body 418 such or multiple catheters, needles, or lumens. The catheter(s) having a proximal region and distal region, whereby the proximal end of the ultrasound catheter is adapted or configured to be advanced to or in proximity to the subject's treatment site such as a stenotic risk region 410. It should be appreciated that any one of the catheters 418 as shown may be a plurality of catheters and any given catheter may have one or more lumens therein. The system further comprises a microbubble reservoir, port or channel 433 in hydraulic communication with the tubular member 418 and any lumens, channels, controllers or communication devices related to the catheter system. The microbubble reservoir, port or channel 433 is adapted to release microbubbles that are intended to be located into or proximal to the treatment site 410 at the desired or applicable location, such as a vessel or vessel wall 411 of the subject. The system 402 further comprises an ultrasonic energy source 412 in communication with the distal region (or other region as desired or required) of the tubular member 418 (as well as other components or subsystems of the present invention). The ultrasonic energy is adapted for, or capable of: imaging the treatment site 410, (some embodiments, for example, optionally pushing bubbles using ultrasound radiation force [29]), and rupturing the microbubbles. For instance, therapeutic array 436 for bursting the microbubbles are provided (e.g., at low frequency LF or as desired or required). Further, an imaging array 437 for imaging (e.g., at high frequency array HF or as desired or required).

Still referring to FIG. 4, the system 402 further comprise (although not shown) a control circuitry configured to send electrical activation to the ultrasonic energy source, as well as other components and subsystems of the present invention. Further, the ultrasonic energy source may provide ultrasonic radiation forces for translating the microbubbles 434 into or in the vicinity of the treatment site 410 at the desired or applicable location 411 of the subject; or alternatively the mechanical forces may be provided for translating the microbubbles into or in the vicinity of the treatment site 410, as well as a combination of both mechanical and ultrasonic forces (acoustic wave) to achieve the desired or required result.

It should be appreciated that the aforementioned catheter 418, microbubble reservoir or channel 433, ultrasound source(s) 412, and controller may be disposed entirely inside the applicable location of the subject, outside the location of the subject or a combination of inside or outside the location of the subject. The one or more locations 411 of the subject may be an organ. The organ may include hollow organs, solid organs, parenchymal tissue, stromal tissue, and/or ducts. The one or more locations 411 of the subject may be a tubular anatomical structure. The tubular anatomical structure may be a blood vessel. Further, for example, the treatment site 410 may be a vasculature treatment site comprising at least on of the following: stenosis region or any region exhibiting vascular disease. Further, for example, the treatment site 410 may be a vasculature treatment site and/or a diagnostic site.

As such, the approach illustrated in FIG. 4, provides, for instance, a catheter for delivery of drug loaded bubbles, ultrasound imaging of bubbles/tissue, and ultrasound-based bubble destruction/drug delivery.

The imaging transducer/transducer array and the therapeutic transducer/transducer array may be identical. Whereas it is sometimes necessary to optimize two transducers for two functions it is also feasible, if the transducer possesses sufficient performance versatility (e.g. high frequency bandwidth and high power capability) to use the same transducer for both imaging and therapeutic function.

Ultrasound-Triggered Release of Rapamycin from Microbubbles Attenuates SMC Proliferation Over 48 Hrs In Vitro.

As discussed above, the chemical and biological properties of rapamycin and why it is the benchmark reagent for preventing SMC proliferation associated with vascular injury in vivo. This established the rationale for choosing rapamycin for ultrasound-triggered microbubble carrier release. Multiple groups have shown that treatment of cultured SMCs with rapamycin reduces SMC proliferation [12, 30]. However, delivering of rapamycin via ultrasound triggered release from a microbubble carrier has not been performed.

Exemplary Design/Experiment

Ultrasound was applied to rat smooth muscle cells in conjunction with modified ultrasound microbubbles containing rapamycin in their shells. The microbubbles were prepared by co-inventor A. L. Klibanov at UVA. Microbubbles were formed by self-assembly of a lipid monolayer during the ultrasonic dispersion of decafluorobutane gas in an aqueous micellar mixture of phosphatidylcholine (2 mg/ml) and Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) stearate (2 mg/ml) with rapamycin (0.2 mg/ml) and/or a trace amount of a fluorescent dye DiI (Molecular Probes, Eugene, Oreg.), similarly to the procedure described previously [31]. Fluorescently labeled DiI microbubbles were used as a control to ensure that the microbubble vehicle alone did not cause an effect on the cells. The rapamycin drug, dissolved in 100% ethanol, was also used as a control with which to compare the effect of the rapamycin microbubbles. We assured a strong adherence of cells to the OptiCell (Biocrystal, Westerville, Ohio) flasks by plating them with fibronectin for 24 hrs prior to plating any cells. Rat SMCs were plated at a low density and allowed to grow for 48 hrs in DF10 media inside each of 12 OptiCells. Digital phase microscopy light images of the cells were taken at 5 hrs prior before treatment to establish baseline conditions. All images were taken at 4× magnification. 24 hrs after plating, the media was replaced with fresh media containing either the DiI microbubbles (vehicle control), rapamycin drug (drug control), or rapamycin microbubbles. The microbubbles (DiI or rapamycin) were added to the OptiCells at a concentration of 10×10⁶ bubbles/ml and the rapamycin was added at a concentration of 10 ng/ml. The microbubble concentrations were chosen such that the number of microbubbles added contained an equivalent amount of rapamycin, ˜10 ng/ml. We ensured that the drug had an effect even without prolonged exposure by taking half of the OptiCell flasks and giving them treatment for only two hours. After two hours the drug/bubble-containing media was replaced with fresh media. The cells in the OptiCell flasks received one of the following 6 treatments: DiI bubbles for 48 hours, rapamycin drug for 48 hours, rapamycin bubbles for 48 hours, DiI bubbles for 2 hours, rapamycin drug for 2 hours, rapamycin bubbles for 2 hours. All conditions were tested in duplicate.

Following the placement of fresh media and microbubbles into each OptiCell, ultrasound was applied to the entire area of cell growth. One at a time, each OptiCell was horizontally placed into a water bath (−37° C.). A focused 1 MHz (Panametrics, Waltham, Mass.) transducer was immersed in the water and located directly above the cells. A motion controller was used to traverse the transducer across the aperture of the OptiCell so as to evenly apply ultrasound to the entire area of cell growth. A 1 MHz, 35% BW, Gaussian pulse was applied at a Pulse Repetition Frequency (PRF) of 1 kHz, 600 kPa peak, for the entire insonation time (9 mins.). Images were taken at 4 locations within each OptiCell. These locations were marked with a dot at the 5 hr time point. Subsequent images were taken at these same locations, 24 hours, and 48 hours after treatment. The OptiCells were stored in a 37° C. incubator.

Results:

In FIGS. 5(A) and 5(B), we show that delivery of ˜10 ng/ml of rapamycin by ultrasound-triggered release form a microbubble carrier prevented SMC proliferation, depicted as a change in cell number, compared to release of a fluorescent membrane dye, DiI (Invitrogen), from an equivalent number of microbubble carriers. Moreover, quantitative analysis in FIG. 5(D), shows that delivery of rapamycin (10 ng/ml) by ultrasound-triggered release from a microbubble carrier was not different from cells treated with free rapamycin drug (10 ng/ml) in the cell culture media. Similar results were observed in the set of 6 OptiCells which were only treated for 2 hours post ultrasound and then allowed to grow for 48 hrs (FIGS. 5(C) and 5(E)). Thus, these results show (among other things) that rapamycin and an inert cell marking dye (DiI, FIG. 5(C)) can be delivered to SMCs by ultrasound-triggered microbubble carrier release.

Next, non-invasive ultrasound imaging can play a critical role in the guidance of the therapeutic ultrasound that will localize the release and transcellular membrane delivery of the rapamycin drug. For instance, FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the current capabilities for fine-scale visualization of rodent vasculature. FIG. 6 illustrates a bubble-specific image of vessel wall-bound molecular-targeted (anti-VCAM-1) bubbles in the mouse common carotid artery (CCA) assessed using 10 MHz bubble specific ultrasound imaging (e.g., Sequoia scanner or other commercial clinical ultrasound scanner). FIG. 7(A) is a VisualSonics VEVO 770 image of a rat carotid at 40 MHz demonstrating fine spatial resolution. FIGS. 7(B) and 7(C) are B-Mode, and contrast specific, rat carotid images acquired at 12 MHz and 10 MHz, respectively (e.g., Sequoia scanner).

Transducer and Instrumentation

An exemplary transducer solution for dual function imaging therapeutics is one in which the transducer elements are sufficiently versatile that they can accomplish both tasks—high frequency (HF) imaging and low frequency (LF) bubble manipulation/breaking. This enables a design in which the imaging plane and therapeutic planes are coincident. Deficiencies in these previous designs suggest the need for a superior solution.

The solution to the dual function requirement of the transducer (HF, high resolution, low intensity imaging and LF, high power bubble fracture) is to form a transducer with two active layers: one on top of the other (for example as shown in FIG. 3(C) or FIG. 4). Each layer is resonant at a widely disparate frequency—the lower one at about 1-2 MHz and the upper one at approximately 12 MHz. Conventional design wisdom relating to stacked transducer layers would suggest that the two transducer layers would cause high undesirable interference between the resonances associated with each of the layers. Nevertheless, our experience suggests that a two layer transducer will work provided that the transducer layers are well matched between each other and to the backing material.

In an approach, a prototype dual layer single element transducer was designed using 1:3 PZT/epoxy composite transducer layers. The acoustic impedance of each layer is approximately 15 MRayl. The backing is a dense metal (tungsten) loaded epoxy with an acoustic impedance of approximately 9 MRayl. This transducer was fabricated to our design by Vermon, Tours, France. The single element device, 1 cm in diameter and with a focal depth of 5 cm, was constructed to test the viability of the proposed dual layer approach. FIG. 8(A) illustrates the pulse-echo responses of the LF layer. The LF result exhibits a desired smooth, short duration, waveform. The high frequency layer in the current prototype exhibits a reflection artifact that we attribute to reflections between the rear of the low frequency layer and the backing block (FIG. 8(B)). In FIG. 8(C), we show that we can substantially correct this deficiency by using an inverse filter designed to force the response to be more Gaussian (in the frequency domain). Alternatively, we will redesign and optimize the dual layer transducer using better matched transducer layers to minimize/eliminate internal reflections. An early FEA result for a modified design, using a better matched backing (i.e. 15 MRayl), is shown in FIG. 8(D).

The transducer may be designed for any one of many clinical applications. It may be for transcutaneous use and comprise a conventional phased or linear array (flat or curved, or contoured anatomically or ergonomically as desired or required). It may also be designed for transesophagael, transvaginal, transuretha, transrectal or intra-operative use. Examples of each of these form factor transducers are known in the field—usually comprising similar transducer structures inside a plastic case adapted to the chosen anatomic use.

The transducer may also be formed in a catheter—as in intrasvascular ultrasound (IVUS). IVUS catheters are currently widely marketed in the US by Boston Scientific (Natick, Mass.) and Volcano (Rancho Cordova, Calif.). The Boston Scientific transducer typically comprises a single element that is rotated at high speed by a drive wire to form a coronal view. The transducer element in this transducer may be modified by changing its operating frequency (i.e. lowered to around 2-15 MHz) to make it suitable for breaking bubbles. The Volcano transducer is generally a circumferential phased array. Again, the frequency of the array design may be modified (i.e. lowered to around 2-around 15 MHz) to make it suitable for breaking bubbles. It is possible to potentially use either a dual layer design—as described herein—or potentially use a modified design where a compromise between high frequency imaging and low frequency bubble breaking is selected—e.g., instead of attempting to operate imaging at about 25 MHz and breaking at about 2 MHz, a single wideband design at about 15 MHz is capable of about 8 MHz breaking and 20 MHz imaging. High bandwidth transducer design, such as by using multiple matching layers, for example, as known to those skilled in the art. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 12, for example, the catheter transducer may also include a continuous hollow port down which drug coated contrast is flushed during use. In this way, a stream of active contrast is emitted into the field of view of the transducer as shown schematically. (In clinical use, the blood flow in the coronaries is in the “right” direction—i.e. blood flow is moving in the distal orientation.).

Notice also that other formats of drug media delivery are possible. For example: free dissolved (e.g. alcohol) rapamycin (or other drug) may be transferred side by side with plain contrast microbubbles down the hollow port. As indicated in Price's 1998 Circulation paper (“Delivery of colloidal particles and red blood cells to tissue through microvessel ruptures created by targeted microbubble destruction with ultrasound” Vol. 98, No 13, pp 1264-1267), local bubble breakage enables delivery of colloidal material (including potential drug in dissolved or undissolved form) across microcirculatory vessel walls. Bubble could be injected intravenously and dissolved rapamycin may be injected via the catheter port.

Normally lipid based bubbles are used. Other shell materials may be used—such as albumen-based or polymer-based shelled bubbles. Bubbles with these shell materials are known in the field.

Instrumentation

Among various options available, the SonixRP (Ultrasonix, Richmond, BC, Canada) is a versatile platform to use as the base instrumentation for implementing the invention. Of course, other scanner platforms may be procured or designed/built as is well known to those in the field. The RP, and its research capabilities (including high level software/hardware architecture), are described in detail in a recent publication [32] [32].

It should be appreciated a number of marketed technology systems and components may be implemented with the present invention such as by, but not limited to, the following: the medical ultrasound companies include: Philips, Siemens, General Electric—also VisualSonics etc. However, it may be noted that these are not catheter based companies. BostonScientific and Volcano are the primary IVUS companies.

In Vitro Radiation Force Enhanced Molecular Targeted Ultrasound

A problem encountered when using intravascular injected targeted contrast agent is that, except in very small vessels, only a very small fraction of the injected material will be sufficient close (<1 μm) to have even a remote chance to form the intended molecular bond between ligand and receptor. In vitro studies of targeted microbubble adhesion on substrates of P-selectin have reported that only a small percentage of the perfused microbubbles were specifically retained under physiological flow conditions [e.g., Klibanov[33]]. Although detection of single microbubbles is possible [34], low efficiency of microbubble targeting requires a larger administered dose of microbubbles than would otherwise be required. Microbubbles exhibit rheological behavior similar to that of erythrocytes [35] and tend to migrate towards the center of the blood vessel. As most endothelial proteins extend only nanometers [36] from the endothelium, it is unlikely that many of the microbubbles flowing through the targeted vasculature come into contact with the intended molecular target. Microbubble attachment efficiency can be increased by moving circulating microbubbles into contact with the vessel wall, thus increasing the frequency of microbubble: target adhesive events. Dayton [37] and others [38] previously hypothesized that microbubble adhesion to the vascular endothelium may be enhanced by using ultrasound radiation forces to propel freely flowing microbubbles towards the vessel wall. Adhesion of microbubbles [39] and acoustically active liposomes [40] under applied acoustic pressure in an avidin: biotin model system has been examined, and adhesion of targeted microbubbles to cultured endothelial cells has been reported [39].

Acoustic radiation traveling through a continuous media produces a pressure gradient, which is experienced as a directional force by compressible bubbles in the acoustic field. Two components of this radiation force have been described: a primary force, which is directed away from the source, and a secondary force, which is typically attractive between ultrasound contrast microbubbles [41]. The behavior of single, free-stream microbubbles exposed to acoustic radiation has previously been examined rigorously [37, 41, 42]. Derivations of the magnitude of both primary and secondary forces in the linear range were presented by Dayton [37], assuming a low duty factor, a constant magnitude of pressure in each applied pulse, and a unidirectional pressure gradient. The primary radiation force is proportional to the negative time-averaged product of the microbubble volume and the spatial pressure gradient. For a microbubble driven at resonant frequency, assuming small-amplitude oscillations, the magnitude of the primary radiation force is defined by

$\begin{matrix} {F_{1} = {\frac{2\pi \; P_{a}^{2}R}{\delta \; \omega_{0}\rho \; c}\left\lbrack \frac{D}{T} \right\rbrack}} & (1) \end{matrix}$

where P_(a) is the peak applied acoustic pressure, R is the microbubble resting radius, δ is the total damping coefficient, ρ is the medium density, c is the velocity of sound in the bulk aqueous phase, and ω0 is the microbubble resonant frequency. This term is scaled by D/T for a pulsed field, where D is the pulse duration and 1/T is the pulse repetition frequency (PRF).

Targeting these microbubbles to P-selectin was achieved by conjugating the anti-P-selectin monoclonal antibody (mAb) Rb.40.34 [43] to the distal tips of PEG chains via a streptavidin link, as shown in FIG. 9. The preparation of the targeted microbubbles used in this experiment has been described in depth elsewhere [31, 44]. Trace amount (<1% of total lipid mass) of Da lipid dye (Molecular Probes, Eugene, Oreg.) was used as a fluorescence probe for epi-illumination microscopy. Microbubbles were conjugated to the targeting ligand the day of the experiment, and were stored on ice in C4F10-saturated Dulbecco's Phosphate Buffered Saline Solution (DPBS) (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.). Microbubble size distribution and concentration was determined with a Coulter counter (Beckman-Coulter, Miami, Fla.).

A 2.25 MHz, 0.5″ diameter, 0.8″ focal depth ultrasound transducer (Panametrics V306, Waltham, Mass.) was used in this study. At a Pulse Repetition Frequency (PRF) of 10 kHz, 40 sinusoidal cycles at a frequency of 2.0 MHz were applied. Microbubbles were insonated at acoustic pressures between 24.5 and 170 kPa. Upon cessation of insonation, 10 optical fields along a P-selectin coated microcapillary within the width of the applied ultrasound beam were observed and recorded. Alternatively, some flow chambers were exposed to 2 minutes of flow alone, without insonation, in order to assess microbubble binding in the absence of applied radiation force. The number of adherent microbubbles in each of 10 fields of view following insonation was determined off-line. Microbubbles aggregates projecting normal to the optical plane (downward into the flow stream) were counted as a single bubble. Microbubble aggregation was assessed by counting the number of contiguous microbubbles adherent in the optical plane. Each flow chamber was used for a single experiment. Statistical significance was tested with a Student's t-test. We observed negligible binding of targeted microbubbles to casein-coated (i.e. control) microcapillaries both with and without the application of radiation force. We observed a statistically significant (p<0.05) increase in specific microbubble adhesion to P-selectin due to applied radiation forces at each of the microbubble concentrations examined. Applied radiation force increased targeted microbubble adhesion to P-selectin coated microcapillaries 16-fold at 75×10⁶ B⁻ml⁻¹ and over 60-fold at 0.25×10⁶ B⁻ml⁻¹ (or other sizes, volumes and ranges as required or desired).

Imaging of adherent microbubbles in flow chambers was also performed using 14 MHz ultrasound imaging (e.g., on a Siemens Sequoia or similar clinical scanner). Microbubbles were infused into the flow chamber as described above and exposed to 1 minute of flow alone at the indicated shear rate, followed by one minute of insonation at 122 kPa or 1 additional minute of flow only. It has also been determined that microbubbles attached to the target substrate by acoustic radiation force remain viable for ultrasound imaging. We observed no adherent microbubbles and received no ultrasound signal in microcapillaries infused with buffer alone (FIG. 11(A), FIG. 11(D)). A contrast signal is visible in FIG. 11(E), which shows an ultrasound image of a microcapillary infused with 2.5×10⁶ B/ml for 2 minutes in the absence of acoustic pressure then flushed with buffer. A representative fluorescence microscopy field of view in this capillary is presented in FIG. 11(C). FIG. 11(B). FIG. 11(C) shows a representative optical field of view from a microcapillary infused with 2.5×10⁶ bubbles/ml exposed to 1 minute of flow only, 1 minute of insonation at 122 kPa and then saline flushed, in which extensive microbubble accumulation is evident. The corresponding echo shown in FIG. 11(F) is very strong. This suggests that the microbubbles targeted by means of radiation force at an acoustic pressure of 122 kPa remain intact and echogenic.

In summary, we have demonstrated some of the key components of some of the embodiments of the present invention method and system including, but not limited thereto, the following:

1. Rapamycin loaded microbubbles+ultrasound have a demonstrated, selective, anti-proliferative effect on rat SMCs.

2. VCAM-1, as well as other cell surface antigens including but not limited to PECAM, is upregulated in proliferating SMCs in the rat and other animal models of stenosis and human restenosis.

3. Fine resolution ultrasound imaging can visualize vasculature anatomy and achieve high sensitivity/high specificity bubble imaging.

4. Dual frequency transducers for: a) high frequency imaging, and b) low frequency radiation force/bubble fracture.

5. Radiation force can be used to improve bubble molecular VCAM-1 targeting attachment efficiency.

Related Exemplary Methods (and Related Systems)

Single Element Transducer (Typically Non Imaging Capable).

Our preliminary data provided promising early results using a simple, axisymmetrically focused, single element transducer. What is required is a dual function (low frequency bubble “busting” plus high frequency imaging) transducer and associated instrumentation.

Transducer Array (Typically Imaging Capable).

An exemplary design may comprise 1:3 composite piezoceramic—epoxy active layers stacked one over the other. (A “1:3” composite comprises piezoelectric ceramic posts embedded in a polymer matrix—i.e. the two components are electrically and mechanically in “parallel”. The 1:3 configuration is the dominant composite configuration and is in widespread commercial use.). The composite material possesses approximate 50% ceramic volume fraction and possesses an acoustic impedance of approximately 15 MRayl. A dense, tungsten particle filled, backing block is used. A thin matching layer, approximately quarter wavelength matched for 12 MHz operation, is used over the top. A conventional filled silicone rubber lens will be used to obtain an elevation focus. The elevational focal depth is approximately 15 mm. Specifically, we use approximately 12 MHz B-Mode imaging resulting in <200 μm lateral resolution and axial resolution. At this frequency,

is 125 μm. Consequently, for practical f#'s, (i.e. 1-2) a 200 μm resolution is feasible. An array system provides more than sufficient scanning frame rate (>100 frames/s for selected small fields of view—e.g. 15 mm×15 mm). Focused ultrasound delivery is delivered at 1-2 MHz. We are able to control the region over which a therapeutic effect is obtained to approximately 3λ—i.e. approximately a 2 mm spot size.

High Resolution, High Sensitivity, High Specificity, Bubble Imaging.

An objective is to provide anatomic B-Mode imaging capability, bubble specific imaging and application of bubble fracture pulses under user control. The anatomic B-Mode imaging are accomplished using standard B-Mode image formation techniques—i.e. optimized aperture apodization, fixed focus transmit, dynamic receive focusing, signal detection and scan conversion. Bubble specific imaging will be provided by using “Pulse Inversion” (PI)[45]—i.e. 1, −1 transmit polarity/amplitude; followed by “1”+“−1” processing to eliminate the linear component). If necessary other bubble specific techniques such as amplitude scaling (i.e. 1,2 transmit polarity/amplitude; followed by (2×“1”)—“2” processing [46]) and the combination of PI and amplitude scaling (e.g. −1, 2, −1 transmit polarity/amplitude; followed by “−1”+“2”+“−1” processing [47]).

Low Frequency, Bubble Pushing and Bubble Destruction.

These modes use the low frequency elements of the array. The design of an embodiment for the transducer comprises less than a total of 128 elements (96, 12 MHz elements and 24, 2 MHz elements). In this way, by simply reprogramming the selected transducer apertures from the available 128 transducer connector channels, we can switch between imaging and therapeutic modes of operation.

Design Rapamycin Microbubble Carrier System Capable of Ultrasound-Triggered Release

Bubble Making and Rapamycin Incorporation.

Microbubbles are prepared by self-assembly of a lipid monolayer during the ultrasonic dispersion of decafluorobutane gas in the aqueous micellar mixture of phosphatidylcholine and PEG stearate (2 mg/ml) with rapamycin (0.2 mg/ml) and/or a trace amount of a fluorescent dye DiI (Molecular Probes, Eugene, Oreg.), similarly to the procedure described earlier [48]. In some instances, membrane thickening is achieved by addition of glycerol trioleate (thicker microbubble shell will harbor increased amounts of rapamycin) [49]. Free lipid, dye and rapamycin, not incorporated in the bubble shell is removed by sequential (3×) centrifugal flotation (100×g, 5 min), with the recycling of the first wash to save reagents.

Rapamycin Quantitation.

Robust and sensitive high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) procedures are described in the literature for clinical assays. We have HPLC available in our laboratory and will implement such a procedure [50]. Briefly, the sample being tested (microbubbles or media) is lyophilized and redissolved in chlorobutanol, centrifuged to remove sediment; samples placed in the autosampler vials and HPLC performed with UV detection against a calibration curve with a known amount of rapamycin.

Rapamycin Release by Ultrasound: In Vitro Functional Bubble Destruction Testing.

An aqueous saline dispersion of rapamycin-containing microbubbles (10⁶-10⁷/ml particle concentration) will be placed in an OptiCell (USA Scientific, Ocala, Fla.) in 10 ml volume. We will destroy bubbles by ultrasound in the conditions described for the cell culture study, remove the microbubble particles from OptiCell and subject them to centrifugal flotation to prove that residual microbubbles (if present) will be removed from the samples. We will then perform rapamycin quantitation in the bubble-free infranatant by HPLC technique as described above.

Attachment of Anti-VCAM-1 Antibody to Microbubbles.

Coupling of anti-VCAM-1 antibody to microbubble surface is performed by streptavidin coupling technique as described [44]. Briefly, during the preparation of microbubbles, 2 mol % of biotin-PEG3400-phosphatidylethanolamine is added to the lipid mixture. A streptavidin bridge technique is applied for biotinylated anti-VCAM-1 antibody coupling to the microbubble surface as described earlier for other antibodies [33, 51]. Biotinylation of antibody molecule is performed with biotin N-hydroxysuccinimide ester reagent at pH 7.5 in DPBS buffer. The degree of antibody biotinylation is tested using the HABA assay as described previously [e.g., Klibanov [33]]. By the adjustment of the antibody-to-biotin-NHS, an incubation ratio coupling of ˜1 biotin per antibody will be achieved. The ELISA test on VCAM-1 antigen is used to confirm that biotinylation does not inactivate the antibody. Streptavidin-bubbles (10⁹/ml) are incubated with biotinylated antibody on ice for 30 min; free antibody are removed from the bubbles by triple centrifugal flotation wash with degassed DPBS buffer in a bucket-rotor centrifuge (100×g, 5 min). After repeated flotations, the mean size of antibody-coated bubbles is normally ˜2.5 um, with >99% of the particles less than 8 um (particle size and concentration are evaluated with a Coulter Multisizer IIe instrument (Beckman Coulter, Miami, Fla.). The amount of attached antibody per bubble is tested by fluorescence spectroscopy labeling as described earlier; typically, ˜10⁵ antibody molecules per microbubble are attached by this technique [51].

FIG. 12(A) schematically illustrate an embodiments (or partial embodiment) of the present invention ultrasound catheter system 1202 for providing therapy (as well as diagnostic if desired or required) to a treatment site at one or more locations of a subject. The catheter system 1202 may comprise a tubular member 1218 or other conduit or chamber, such or multiple catheters, needles, or lumens. The catheter(s) having a proximal region and distal region, whereby the proximal end of the ultrasound catheter is adapted or configured to be advanced to or in proximity to the subject's treatment site or region 1210. It should be appreciated that any one of the tubular member 1218 as shown may be a plurality of tubular or conduit members and any given catheter or the like may have one or more lumens therein. The system further comprises a microbubble reservoir 1232 in hydraulic communication with the port or channel 1233 and in hydraulic communication with the tubular member 1218 and any lumens, channels, controllers or communication devices related to the catheter system. The microbubble reservoir 1232 and port or channel 1233 is adapted to release microbubbles that are intended to be located into or proximal to the treatment site 1210 at the desired or applicable location 1211 of the subject 1211, such a vessel, organ, anatomical structure, anatomical tubular structure, or duct, etc. The system 1202 further comprises an ultrasonic energy source(s) 1212 in communication with the distal region (or other region as desired or required) of the tubular member 1218 (as well as other components or subsystems or components of the present invention). The ultrasonic energy is adapted for or capable of: imaging the treatment site 1210, and rupturing the microbubbles. For instance, therapeutic array 1236 (comprising a predetermined ultrasound system design as desired or required) for bursting the microbubbles are provided (e.g., at low frequency LF or as desired or required). Further, an imaging array 1237 (comprising a predetermined ultrasound system design as desired or required) is provided for imaging (e.g., at high frequency array HF or as desired or required). Further yet, the ultrasonic energy source 1238 (comprising a predetermined ultrasound system design as desired or required) may provide ultrasonic radiation forces for translating or transporting the microbubbles 1234 (e.g., at low frequency LF or high frequency HF, or combination thereof, or as desired or required) into or in the vicinity of the treatment site 1210 or region at the desired or applicable location 1211 of the subject.

Still referring to FIG. 12(A), the system 1202 further comprise (although not shown) a control circuitry configured to send electrical activation to the ultrasonic energy source, as well as other components and subsystems of the present invention. Further, regarding the translation or transportation of the microbubbles or applicable medium, mechanical forces may be provided may be provided in place of the ultrasound forces (acoustic wave) or in combination with the ultrasound for translating the microbubbles into or in the vicinity of the treatment site 1210 to achieve the desired or required result.

It should be appreciated that the aforementioned catheter 1218, microbubble reservoir 1232, microbubble port or channel 1233, ultrasound source(s) 1212, and controller may be disposed entirely inside the applicable location of the subject 1211, outside the location of the subject or a combination of inside or outside the location of the subject. The one or more locations 1211 of the subject may be an organ. The organ may include hollow organs, solid organs, parenchymal tissue, stromal tissue, and/or ducts. The one or more locations 1211 of the subject may be a tubular anatomical structure. The tubular anatomical structure may be a blood vessel. Further, for example, the treatment site 1210 may be a vasculature treatment site comprising at least on of the following: stenosis region or any region exhibiting vascular disease. Further, for example, the treatment site 1210 may be a vasculature treatment site and/or a diagnostic site.

FIG. 12(B) schematically illustrate an embodiments (or partial embodiment) of the present invention ultrasound catheter system 1202 for providing therapy (as well as diagnostic if desired or required) to a treatment site at one or more locations of a subject. The catheter system 1202 may comprise a tubular member such as a catheter body 1218 such or multiple catheters, needles, conduits, housings, or lumens. The catheter(s) having a proximal region and distal region, whereby the proximal end of the ultrasound catheter is adapted or configured to be advanced to or in proximity to the subject's treatment site or region 1210. It should be appreciated that any one of the catheters 1218 as shown may be a plurality of catheters and any given catheter may have one or more lumens therein. The system further comprises a microbubble reservoir 1232 in hydraulic communication with the port or channel 1233 and in hydraulic communication with the tubular member 1218 and any lumens, channels, controllers or communication devices related to the catheter system. The microbubble reservoir 1232 may be single use microbubble dose and high concentration. Moreover, the reservoir 1232 may comprise multiple uses and have a variety of concentrations as desired or required. The microbubble reservoir 1232 and/or port or channel may be a capillary size or larger, or the microscale or smaller such as a microchip, lab-on-a-chip, or in-situ design. The microbubble reservoir 1232 and port or channel 1233 is adapted to release microbubbles that are intended to be located into or proximal to the treatment site 1210 at the desired or applicable location, such as a vessel or vessel wall 1211 of the subject. The system 1202 further comprises an ultrasonic energy source 1212 in communication with the distal region (or other region as desired or required) of the tubular member 1218 (as well as other components or subsystems of the present invention). The ultrasonic energy is adapted for or capable of: imaging the treatment site 1210, and rupturing the microbubbles. For instance, therapeutic array 1236 for bursting the microbubbles are provided (e.g., at low frequency LF or as desired or required). The therapeutic array 1236 comprises a bubble rupture transducer that may be a rotating type; or may be a non-rotating type and be aligned with the radiation force transducer 1238 (or any combination thereof). Further, an imaging array 1237 is provided for imaging (e.g., at high frequency array HF or as desired or required). The imaging array 1237 may be rotating or non-rotating and may be a single element or multiple element (or any combination thereof). Further yet, the ultrasonic energy source 1238 may provide ultrasonic radiation forces for translating or transporting the microbubbles 1234 (e.g., at low frequency LF or high frequency HF, or combination thereof, or as desired or required) into or in the vicinity of the treatment site 1210 at the desired or applicable location 1211 of the subject. The radiation force transducer 1238 may be elongated and non-rotating. Alternatively, the shape may also vary and it may rotate as well. Alternatively, rather than a radiation force transducer, a means for transporting or translating may be implemented, such as mechanically or electrically. For instance, but not limited thereto, ejecting the bubbles with sufficient peripheral oriented velocity so as to translate quickly to the vessel wall.

Still referring to FIGS. 12(A)-(B), the system 1202 further comprise (although not shown) a control circuitry configured to send electrical activation to the ultrasonic energy source, as well as other components and subsystems of the present invention. Further, regarding the translation or transportation of the microbubbles or applicable medium, mechanical forces may be provided in place of the ultrasound forces (acoustic wave) or in combination with the ultrasound for translating the microbubbles into or in the vicinity of the treatment site 1210 to achieve the desired or required result.

It should be appreciated that the aforementioned catheter 1218, microbubble reservoir 1232, microbubble port or channel 1233, ultrasound source(s) 1212, and controller may be disposed entirely inside the applicable location of the subject, outside the location of the subject or a combination of inside or outside the location of the subject. The one or more locations 1211 of the subject may be an organ. The organ may include hollow organs, solid organs, parenchymal tissue, stromal tissue, and/or ducts. The one or more locations 1211 of the subject may be a tubular anatomical structure. The tubular anatomical structure may be a blood vessel. Further, for example, the treatment site 1210 may be a vasculature treatment site comprising at least on of the following: stenosis region or any region exhibiting vascular disease. Further, for example, the treatment site 1210 may be a vasculature treatment site and/or a diagnostic site.

Still referring to FIGS. 12(A)-(B), for example (as well as other embodiments discussed herein), the system 1202 may comprise, but not limited to the following:

-   -   Imaging transducer may be scanned single element or array;     -   Orientation of scanning transducer/array may be annular format         per conventional;     -   IVUS or may be longitudinal (or other) format;     -   Longitudinal format is like shown here for the radiation force         transducer and may be similar to the Siemens AcuNav intracardiac         catheter transducer array;     -   Radiation force transducer may be a single element, focused         element;     -   It might be an annular array for multiple focal option;     -   Frequency of each transducer/array may be different;     -   Radiation force transducer may be high frequency;     -   Imaging radiation may be high frequency;     -   Rupture radiation may be low frequency;     -   Rupture and imaging could be coincident—one over the other;     -   Bubbles are conceptually injected via a port;     -   Bubbles may be injected freely via the same access catheter         (i.e. ˜2 mm tube or as desired);     -   Bubbles may be saved in a single use highly concentrated from         near the catheter tip. This would allow us to use a smaller         number of bubbles. Keeping the bubbles in high concentration         (i.e. low rate of outward diffusion) allows them to be time         stable);     -   Bubbles may be monodisperse (all same size), but not         necessarily;     -   In principle, bubble dispersions can be sorted.

FIG. 13 illustrates a schematic plan view of the “On-chip generation of microbubbles as a practical technology for manufacturing contrast agents for ultrasonic imaging” by Kanaka Hettiarachchi, Esra Talu, Marjorie L. Longo, Paul A. Dayton and Abraham R Lee Lab on a Chip, 2007, 7, 463-468. Provided is the soft molded PDMS (silicone) based micro flow chamber below. An aspect of the present invention may utilize some aspects. An embodiment of the present invention provides a segment of a device that easily fits at the tip of a catheter. This approach has many features and characteristics:

-   -   1. Increased versatility—can vary shell composition (i.e.         potentially drug/gene payload and concentration “on the fly”);     -   2. Enables otherwise unfeasible bubbles. Making the bubbles at         the tip means that stability problems are mitigated. The bubbles         only have to survive a few seconds before therapeutic delivery.         This may enable less stable chemical formulations or less stable         bubble (i.e. shell/gas) permutations. Currently, gas is limited         to one with very low rate of diffusion (i.e. high molecular         weight). The new design enables the use of new gases or light         gases at a minimum. This area isn't properly explored yet in our         opinion.     -   3. Existing problems with bubble stability that require complex         handling are circumvented.

Still referring FIG. 13, FIG. 13 provides a schematic plan view of the microfluidic flow-focusing device or in-situ device. The microfluid device may be less than about 1 mm and therefore can be fit inside a catheter for example. The arrows indicate direction of flow of liquid inlet(s) and gas inlet.

It should be appreciated that the widths and heights may be larger or smaller as required. The contours and shapes may vary as well.

FIG. 14(A) provides a schematic elevational view of an embodiment (or partial embodiment) or approach of the present invention that provides a single occlusion balloon to temporally stop flow—distal to transducer and drug bubble port. The balloon may be released (or partially released) after procedure (or during the procedure) and drug bubble residual or other medium flows systemically or as available.

FIG. 14(B) provides an embodiment similar to device as shown in FIG. 14(A), however the instant embodiment or approach of the present invention provides a dual occlusion balloon to stop flow (or hinder flow) and create a sealed vessel section (or partially sealed section) in which drug (or applicable medium) is injected, delivered and then flushed to eliminate systemic delivery concerns. The instant approach may also include second port well separated from first so as to permit flush in from one and vacuum out at other—i.e. ports upstream and downstream and close to each of the balloons (or located as desired or required).

The balloons may be any available sealing, occluding or blocking designs, structure, or devices available to those skilled in the art (or so as to provide partial occlusion when applicable or desired).

Examples of balloon (or occlusion) related catheter devices and associated methods are provided below. The following patents, applications and publications as listed below are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety herein. The devices, systems, and methods of various embodiments of the invention disclosed herein may utilize aspects disclosed in the following references, applications, publications and patents and which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety:

-   -   1. U.S. Pat. No. 6,626,861, Sep. 30, 2003, “Balloon catheter         apparatus and method”, Hart, et al.     -   2. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0235501, Oct.         19, 2006, “Stent supplying device”, Igaki, et al.     -   3. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0055132, Mar. 8,         2007, “Catheter device,” Camus, et al.     -   4. U.S. Pat. No. 5,868,708, Feb. 9, 1999, “Balloon catheter         apparatus and method”, Hart, et al.     -   5. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0189928, Aug.         24, 2006, “Catheter device”, Camus, et al.     -   6. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0243233, Oct. 2,         2008, “Device and Methods for Treatment of Vascular         Bifurcations”, Ben-Muvhar, et al.     -   7. U.S. Pat. No. 5,222,970, Jun. 29, 1993, “Method of and system         for mounting a vascular occlusion balloon on a delivery         catheter”, Reeves, et al.     -   8. U.S. Pat. No. 5,707,354, Jan. 13, 1998, “Compliant catheter         lumen and methods”, Salmon, et al.     -   9. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0163192, Aug.         28, 2003, “Methods for vascular reconstruction of diseased         arteries”, Wallace, et al.     -   10. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2002/0169496, Nov.         14, 2002, “Methods for vascular reconstruction of diseased         arteries”, Wallace, et al.     -   11. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0103443, May 1,         2008, “Balloon catheter for treating hardened lesions”, Kabrick,         et al.     -   12. U.S. Pat. No. 6,565,601, May 20, 2003, “Methods for vascular         reconstruction of diseased arteries, Wallace, et al.     -   13. U.S. Pat. No. 5,827,171, Oct. 27, 1998, ‘Intravascular         circulatory assist device”, Dobak, et al.     -   14. U.S. Pat. No. 7,011,677, Mar. 14, 2006, “Methods for         vascular reconstruction of diseased arteries”, Wallace, et al.     -   15. U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,870, Aug. 24, 1999, “Catheter system         having a balloon angioplasty device disposed over a work element         lumen”, Jang, et al.     -   16. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0158308, Aug.         12, 2004, “Delivery catheter for ribbon-type prosthesis and         methods of use”, Hogendijk, et al.     -   17. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0161103,         “Catheter systems and methods for their use in the treatment of         calcified vascular occlusions”, Constantz, et al.     -   18. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0199820, Oct.         23, 2003, “Catheter systems and methods for their use in the         treatment of calcified vascular occlusions”, Constantz, et al.     -   19. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2002/0044907, Apr.         18, 2002, “Catheter systems and methods for their use in the         treatment of calcified vascular occlusions”, Constantz, et al.     -   20. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0049867,         “System for treating chronic total occlusion caused by lower         extremity arterial disease”, Shindelman, et al.     -   21. U.S. Pat. No. 5,041,089, Aug. 20, 1991, “Vascular dilation         catheter construction”, Mueller, et al.     -   22. U.S. Pat. No. 5,755,707, May 26, 1998, “Vascular dilating         catheter”, Miyagawa, et al.     -   23. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0111145, Jun.         10, 2004, “Vascular prosthesis for the treatment of abdominal         aortic aneurysms, using a combined laparoscopic/open and         endovascular technique, and delivery system for releasing a         prosthesis fitted with anchoring stents”, Serino, et al.     -   24. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0043389, Feb.         22, 2007, “System for treating chronic total occlusion caused by         lower extremity arterial disease”, Shindelman, et al.     -   25. U.S. Patent Application No. 2003/0220666, Nov. 27, 2003,         “Solid embolic material with variable expansion”, et al.     -   26. U.S. Pat. No. 5,117,831, Jun. 2, 1992, “Vascular catheter         having tandem imaging and dilatation components”, Jang, et al.     -   27. U.S. Pat. No. 6,527,979, Mar. 4, 2003, “Catheter systems and         methods for their use in the treatment of calcified vascular         occlusions”, Constantz, et al.     -   28. U.S. Pat. No. 5,447,503, Sep. 5, 1995, “Guiding catheter tip         having a tapered tip with an expandable lumen”, Miller, et al.     -   29. U.S. Pat. No. 7,198,637, Apr. 3, 2007, “Method and system         for stent retention using an adhesive”, Deshmukh, et al.     -   30. U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,634, May 16, 1995, “Catheter having         helical inflation lumen”, Glynn, et al.         Characteristics and Features that May be Implemented in Whole or         in Part (in any Permutation) with the Various Embodiments or         Partial Embodiments as Discussed Throughout this Document

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides Dual use IVUS provides imaging plus therapy.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides Rapamycin bubbles (and other drugs with therapeutic effect—primarily antiproliferative but could be others—including dual drug use—such as one drug to precondition tissue for a second drug to operate with efficacy).

Gene Bubbles

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides the use of cell-specific promoter constructs to target gene expression specifically to one or multiple cell types in combination or independently. This includes but is not limited to endothelial cell specific promoters (e.g. Tie-2, eNos), smooth muscle cell specific promoters (e.g. SMMHC, SM alpha-actin, SM22-alpha, myocardin), macrophages (e.g. mac-1) and promoter of these genes that have been modified by mutating specific cis DNA sequences so as to limit inhibition of the promoter and increase activity. An example would be, but not limited, to a G/C mutation in the SM22a promoter which renders the promoter active in all smooth muscle cell phenotypes [e.g., Wamhoff et al, Circ Res, 2004]. Genes under control of a tissue selective promoter include but are not limited to anti-proliferative genes such p21, p53, KLF4 and proliferative genes such as PCNA. In one scenario, a proliferative gene is targeted to endothelial cell to promote re-endothelialization and an anti-proliferative gene is targeted to smooth muscle to prevent restenosis.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides molecular targeted bubbles (VCAM-1, PECAM, etc.). The targeting can be in context of diagnosis or therapeutic use of bubbles—or both. The targeting to be any disease with molecular marker on endothelial surface. For example, VCAM-1 for atherosclerotic plaque—including “vulnerable plaque” or α _(ω) β₃ for angiogenesis associated with cancer.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides radiation force and bubbles (which usually involves long pulse bursts, but not necessarily).

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides IVUS catheter with drug bubble delivery port upstream.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides drug delivery “port” is plural and forms an annulus.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides a mechanically scanned single element transducer—mechanically scanning achieves the regional coverage.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides phased array transducer—side fire/annular fire. The phased array may be used for imaging and therapy.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides a combination transducer elements—high power/low frequency, low power high frequency.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides different transducer elements in different formats—e.g. phased array imaging plus scanned single element therapeutic.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides a single occlusion balloon to temporally stop flow—distal to transducer and drug bubble port (for instance, release balloon after procedure and drug bubble residual flows systemically).

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides a dual occlusion balloon to stop flow and create a sealed vessel section in which drug is injected, delivered and then flushed to eliminate systemic delivery concerns (requires second port well separated from first so as to permit flush in from one and vacuum out at other—i.e. ports upstream and downstream and close to each of the balloons)

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides a 3D scanning to record extent of problem lesion followed by automated 3D sweep across the lesion to achieve therapeutic effect—i.e. it may be time/procedure efficient for the physician to outline the 3D extent of the plaque and then have the system sweep the region by way of automated sequence of 1D lines to fully encompass the 2D surface of the 3D lesion. The “Track back” method, well known in IVUS, can be used “TrakBackII” from Volcano Corp for their array IVUS.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides a vulnerable plaque application as mentioned immediately above, except application is diagnosis of vulnerable plaque. (Further, it doesn't actually doesn't have to be 3D—but 3D is typically best). The means of differentiating vulnerable plaque comprises-any permutation of:

-   -   a. Using appropriate molecular targeted microbubbles (VCAM-1 for         example).     -   b. Using microbubbles to detect microvasculature of vasa         vasorum—an indicator of active vulnerable plaque (see for         example, see reference Dutch group—Goertz, van der Steen et al.         http://publishing.eur.nl/ir/repub/asset/7950/060908_Frijlink,%20Martijn%20Egbert.pdf,         Harmonic Intravascular Ultrasound Thesis, Martijn Frijlink, 2006         Delft, Netherlands).     -   c. Performing signal processing (attenuation/frequency vs. depth         as per “virtual histology” of Volcano (Vince et al.)     -   d. Performing an elasticity based measurement to detect unusual         softness of plaque (e.g., per known methods of transducer inside         balloon described by M O'Donnell or measuring tissue response to         pulsatile blood forces—Van Der Steen)     -   e. “Tissue thermal strain imaging”: Identification of vulnerable         atherosclerotic plaque using IVUS-based thermal strain imaging:         Yan Shi; Witte, R. S.; O'Donnell, M.; Ultrasonics,         Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control, IEEE Transactions in         Volume 52, Issue 5, May 2005 Page(s):844-850

An embodiment or approach of the present invention sets forth to stabilize the vulnerable plague by delivery compounds such as basic FGF which promoter smooth muscle proliferation and migration to stabilize the weak fibrous cap. We will refer to all analogous therapy approaches for treating brain aneurysms with cerebral micro-coils. Micro-coils are delivered to the blood vessel wall where an aneurysm occurred to provide support for smooth muscle to proliferate and migrate and heal the aneurysm. An approach or embodiment promote, in the case, smooth muscle proliferation and migration, not inhibit it.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides a transducer(s) that may include any permutation of the following:

-   -   a. Single element capable of any or all of: radiation force,         imaging, bubble rupture.     -   b. Phased array (in any format: longitudinal or annular) capable         of any or all of: radiation force, imaging, bubble rupture.     -   c. Either or above wherein element(s) are dual (or triple) layer         arranged to provide (typically) high power at lower frequency         and lower power/fine resolution using high frequency.     -   d. Wherein the different transducers performing different         functions are not arranged one over the other. Place an         elongated radiation force transducer (or array) upstream of         imaging/delivery zone (see figure). Then have an imaging         transducer—imaging the bubbles that have been pushed to the zone         of interest. Then have a delivery transducer. (Subsets also         possible—such as dedicated elongated radiation force transducer         plus combined imaging/delivery transducer (or array).     -   e. An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides a         transducer(s) that can be formed from piezoelectric material         (preferably ceramic but could be piezoelectric polymer PVDF).         Alternatively transducers can be electrostatic, silicon (or         other material) “MEMS” devices.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides a method for localized delivery of drug from drug loaded microbubbles using high intensity ultrasound wherein the location of the focal delivery is guided by an integral, real-time, coincident, ultrasound imaging system.

An embodiment (or partial embodiment) or approach of the present invention provides a method for localized drug delivery wherein the drug coated bubbles possess a selected molecular attachment ligand—such as VCAM-1, P-Selectin, etc. under realtime ultrasound image guidance, such as:

-   -   dual targeting method—fast catch/slow hold     -   variant on bubbles such as liposomes     -   nanoparticle+bubble     -   dual modality contrast Ultrasound+MRI contrast Bubble+ferrous     -   potential of drug not being integrated in bubble shell but         existing in free solution aside the bubbles and relying on         bubble related sonoporation to result in preferential drug         uptake.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides a drug that is rapamycin (antiproliferative, immunosuppressive, or antiinflammatory drug, such as rapamycin, tacrolimus, paclitaxel, dexamethasone, or an active analog or derivative, or combinations thereof). The drug may be selected from a group comprising actinomycin-D, batimistat, c-myc antisense, dexamethasone, paclitaxel, taxanes, sirolimus, tacrolimus and everolimus, unfractionated heparin, low-molecular weight heparin, enoxaprin, bivalirudin, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, Gleevec, wortmannin, PDGF inhibitors, AG1295, rho kinase inhibitors, Y27632, calcium channel blockers, TRAM-34, IKCa channel blockers, amlodipine, nifedipine, and ACE inhibitors, S1P1 and/or S1P3 receptor antagonists, sphingosine kinase 1 inhibitors, synthetic polysaccharides, ticlopinin, dipyridamole, clopidogrel, fondaparinux, streptokinase, urokinase, r-urokinase, r-prourokinase, rt-PA, APSAC, TNK-rt-PA, reteplase, alteplase, monteplase, lanoplase, pamiteplase, staphylokinase, abciximab, tirofiban, orbofiban, xemilofiban, sibrafiban, roxifiban, an anti-restenosis agent, an anti-thrombogenic agent, an antibiotic, an anti-platelet agent, an anti-clotting agent, an anti-inflammatory agent, an anti-neoplastic agent, a chelating agent, penicillamine, triethylene tetramine dihydrochloride, EDTA, DMSA (succimer), deferoxamine mesylate, a radiocontrast agent, a radio-isotope, a prodrug, antibody fragments, antibodies, gene therapy agents, viral vectors and plasmid DNA vectors.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides a subset of relevant bubble properties—dimensions, core gas, shell materials, etc. and including oily shell—decafluorobutane

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides an acoustic radiation force that may be used to translate bubbles towards a selected vessel wall.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides microbubbles are targeted to blood vessels that routinely undergo and angioplasty and/or stenting (including balloon expansion stents and self-expanding stents), including but not limited to the coronary arteries, coronary artery branch points, carotid arteries, cerebral arteries, femoral arteries.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides a systemic injection of bubbles.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides a localized injection of bubbles—from catheter tip—preferably same catheter as imaging but potentially from separate one. See catheter cross-sectional drawing above.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides an ultrasound image guidance of bubbles in a highly bubble-specific mode using one of pulse inversion, amplitude scaling (“power modulation”) or combination of two (“contrast pulse sequences”).

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides an ultrasound intensity has therapeutic (drug delivery) effect, wherein ultrasound has cell death effect.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides the uses of a ultrasound catheter—about 1-about 2 MHz therapeutic, about 30 MHz imaging.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides a co-located transducer—imaging device overlaying the therapeutic device, imaging device residing in an aperture formed within center of therapeutic device (less desirable than overlaying).

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides a synchronized operation—the imaging system is “gated” to never operating during the time of therapeutic operation.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides a therapeutic system “listens” for imaging system operation and inserts therapeutic pulses between imaging operations.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides an imaging system “listens” for therapeutic system operation and inserts imaging pulses between therapeutic operations.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides a “Pulse sequence” claims—X seconds (s) of therapeutic, followed by Y s of imaging, and so on for Z minutes.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides an integrating of this device on a catheter with other preferred catheter device options—e.g. balloon, pressure measurement, temperature measurement, blood sampling.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides a catheter with “over the wire” capability—the standard—has capability to be “threaded” over an in-place metal wire.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides a catheter that may be a derivative of the “Volcano” IVUS catheter (phased annular array). A therapeutic transducer—side firing—is placed near to the imaging annular array.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides a catheter that may be related to some extent to the “Boston-Scientific” IVUS catheter (mechanically scanned single element) i.e. the existing high frequency transducer element is replaced with a stack of low frequency (therapeutic) 1 MHz element with 30 MHz imaging overlaid. Alternatively, there are two transducers side by side in close proximity.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides a catheter possessing an imaging transducer/array in any one or more of the following formats: single element transducer rotated in circumferential fashion to form coronal plane, circumferential array forming coronal plane, side-fire array and wherein the therapeutic array is in any one of more of the following formats: single element transducer rotated in circumferential fashion to form coronal plane, circumferential array forming coronal plane, side-fire array

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides an imaging transducer/array is in any one or more of the following formats: single element transducer rotated in annular fashion to form coronal plane, annular array forming coronal plane, side-fire array and wherein the therapeutic transducer is single focused element or annular array.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides a pro-proliferative for filling up an aneurysm, occlusive treatment upstream of an angiogenic region associated with evolving cancer; Image guidance other than ultrasound; or other mechanisms for therapeutic delivery—such as heat as opposed to acoustic disruption.

Wherein the image guidance (other than ultrasound) includes one or more of: 1) X-ray and its derivatives (plain X-ray, realtime fluoroscopy and computed tomography [CT]), or 2) Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides a complementary drug operation—two drugs in different bubble populations that are stable in isolation but upon ultrasound disruption mix and become active/unstable/therapeutic.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides a therapeutic ultrasound plus bubble, drug and stent—wherein ultrasound induces vibrational mode/activity within stent so as to elicit therapeutic effect among cells/drugs/bubbles adjacent to stent surface.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides a different types of stent and different generations of stent—bare metal stent, current DES, dissolving polymer stent, non polymer stent.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides an acoustic signature of stent that may be monitored to determine degree of accumulation of stiff acoustic loading on stent and any change resulting from therapeutic effect.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides microbubbles that are delivered to a vascular aneurism to deliver a drug that promotes smoothmusclemgration and proliferation to heal the aneurism. Drugs include but are not limited to PDGF-BB, bFGF, etc.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides a method for localized drug delivery wherein the drug-carrying bubbles possess a selected molecular attachment ligand—such as VCAM-1, P-Selectin, etc. under realtime ultrasound image guidance including any permutation thereof:

-   -   dual targeting method—fast catch/slow hold [52]     -   3. microbubble composition, for use as in claims 1 and 2 such         that a plurality of targeting ligands capable of binding with         the diseased tissue, some of the ligands capable of binding         rapidly, and others binding firmly, are attached to the         microbubbles.     -   variant on bubbles such as liposomes     -   nanoparticle+bubble     -   Microbubble composition, such as in claim 1, 2 or 3, having         liposomes or biocompatible nanoparticles applied to the         microbubble shell to house the drug compounds to be released by         targeted insonation     -   dual modality contrast Ultrasound+MRI contrast Bubble+ferrous         (or in another disclosure)     -   potential of drug not being integrated in bubble shell but         existing in free solution aside the bubbles and relying on         bubble related sonoporation to result in preferential drug         uptake.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides a drug that may be rapamycin ((antiproliferative, immunosuppressive, or antiinflammatory drug, such as rapamycin, tacrolimus, paclitaxel, dexamethasone, or an active analog or derivative, or combinations thereof).

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides a subset of relevant bubble properties—dimensions, core gas, shell materials, etc.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides a microbubble composition having drug incorporated, situated, dispersed, dissolved therein directly in the shell, core or core multiplicity, or attached to the outside of the shell, having shell(s) comprised with lipids, phospholipids, oils, fats, lipopolymers, polymers, proteins, surfactants or combinations thereof, shell thickness varied from monomolecular 1 nm, to multimolecular and multilamellar, up to and including 1000 nm.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides microbubble compositions having internal core filled with the gas, gas-vapor mixture or gas precursor phase, gas having molecular mass from about 10 to about 360.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides a microbubble compositions having decafluorobutane core.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides an acoustic radiation force is used to translate bubbles towards a selected vessel wall, or other organs or tissues as desired.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides an application in the coronary artery, application in other vessels, or other organs or tissues as desired.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides a systemic injection of bubbles.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides a localized injection of bubbles—from catheter tip—preferably same catheter as imaging but potentially from separate one. See catheter cross-sectional drawing above.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides an ultrasound image guidance of bubbles in a highly bubble-specific mode using one of pulse inversion, amplitude scaling (“power modulation”) or combination of two (“contrast pulse sequences”):

wherein ultrasound intensity has therapeutic (drug delivery) effect; and/or

wherein ultrasound has cell death effect.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides an ultrasound catheter—1-2 MHz therapeutic, 30 MHz imaging.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides a co-located transducer—imaging device overlaying the therapeutic device, imaging device residing in an aperture formed within center of therapeutic device (which may be less desirable than overlaying).

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides a synchronized operation—the imaging system is “gated” to never operating during the time of therapeutic operation:

wherein the therapeutic system “listens” for imaging system operation and inserts therapeutic pulses between imaging operations, and/or

wherein the imaging system “listens” for therapeutic system operation and inserts imaging pulses between therapeutic operations.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides a “Pulse sequence” claims—X seconds (s) of therapeutic, followed by Y s of imaging, and so on for Z minutes (time, repetition, cycles and duration as desired or required).

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides an integrating of this device on a catheter with other preferred catheter device options—e.g. balloon, pressure measurement, temperature measurement, blood sampling.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides a catheter with “over the wire” capability—the standard—has capability to be “threaded” over an in-place metal wire.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides a catheter that is a derivative of the “Volcano” IVUS catheter (phased annular array). A therapeutic transducer—side firing—is placed near to the imaging annular array.

An embodiment or approach of the present invention provides a catheter that is a derivative of the “Boston-Scientific” IVUS catheter (mechanically scanned single element) i.e. the existing high frequency transducer element is replaced with a stack of low frequency (therapeutic) about 1 MHz element with about 30 MHz imaging overlaid. Alternatively, there are two transducers side by side in close proximity. Frequency may vary as desired or required.

REFERENCES CITED

The following patents, applications and publications as listed below are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety herein. The devices, systems, and methods of various embodiments of the invention disclosed herein may utilize aspects disclosed in the following references, applications, publications and patents and which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety:

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REFERENCES CITED

The following patents, applications and publications as listed below and throughout this document are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety herein. The devices, systems, and methods of various embodiments of the invention disclosed herein may utilize aspects disclosed in the following references, applications, publications and patents and which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety:

LITERATURE CITED

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It should be appreciated that various sizes, dimensions, contours, rigidity, shapes, flexibility and materials of any of the embodiments discussed throughout may be varied and utilized as desired or required

It should be appreciated that the related components and subsystems discussed herein may can take on all shapes along the entire continual geometric spectrum of manipulation of x, y and z planes to provide and meet the anatomical and structural demands and requirements.

Unless clearly specified to the contrary, there is no requirement for any particular described or illustrated activity or element, any particular sequence or such activities, any particular size, speed, material, duration, contour, dimension or frequency, or any particularly interrelationship of such elements. Moreover, any activity can be repeated, any activity can be performed by multiple entities, and/or any element can be duplicated. Further, any activity or element can be excluded, the sequence of activities can vary, and/or the interrelationship of elements can vary. It should be appreciated that aspects of the present invention may have a variety of sizes, contours, shapes, compositions and materials as desired or required.

In summary, while the present invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments, many modifications, variations, alterations, substitutions, and equivalents will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The present invention is not to be limited in scope by the specific embodiment described herein. Indeed, various modifications of the present invention, in addition to those described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art from the foregoing description and accompanying drawings. Accordingly, the invention is to be considered as limited only by the spirit and scope of the following claims, including all modifications and equivalents.

Still other embodiments will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from reading the above-recited detailed description and drawings of certain exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that numerous variations, modifications, and additional embodiments are possible, and accordingly, all such variations, modifications, and embodiments are to be regarded as being within the spirit and scope of this application. For example, regardless of the content of any portion (e.g., title, field, background, summary, abstract, drawing figure, etc.) of this application, unless clearly specified to the contrary, there is no requirement for the inclusion in any claim herein or of any application claiming priority hereto of any particular described or illustrated activity or element, any particular sequence of such activities, or any particular interrelationship of such elements. Moreover, any activity can be repeated, any activity can be performed by multiple entities, and/or any element can be duplicated. Further, any activity or element can be excluded, the sequence of activities can vary, and/or the interrelationship of elements can vary. Unless clearly specified to the contrary, there is no requirement for any particular described or illustrated activity or element, any particular sequence or such activities, any particular size, speed, material, dimension or frequency, or any particularly interrelationship of such elements. Accordingly, the descriptions and drawings are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive. Moreover, when any number or range is described herein, unless clearly stated otherwise, that number or range is approximate. When any range is described herein, unless clearly stated otherwise, that range includes all values therein and all sub ranges therein. Any information in any material (e.g., a United States/foreign patent, United States/foreign patent application, book, article, etc.) that has been incorporated by reference herein, is only incorporated by reference to the extent that no conflict exists between such information and the other statements and drawings set forth herein. In the event of such conflict, including a conflict that would render invalid any claim herein or seeking priority hereto, then any such conflicting information in such incorporated by reference material is specifically not incorporated by reference herein. 

1. A method of providing therapy to a treatment site at one or more locations of a subject, said method comprising: advancing an ultrasound catheter to or in proximity to the subject's treatment site, said catheter having a proximal region and distal region; infusing microbubbles from said distal region of said ultrasound catheter into or proximal to the treatment site; and delivering ultrasonic energy from said distal region of said ultrasound catheter, said ultrasonic energy adapted for: imaging the treatment site, and rupturing said microbubbles.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: controlling activation of said delivered ultrasonic energy.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein said one or more locations comprise at least a portion of an organ.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein said organ comprises hollow organs, solid organs, parenchymal tissue, stromal tissue, and/or ducts.
 5. The method of claim 1, where the one or more locations of the subject comprises at least a portion of a tubular structure.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein said tubular structure comprises a blood vessel.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the treatment site is a vasculature treatment site comprising at least on of the following: stenosis region or any region exhibiting vascular disease.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein said delivering of said ultrasonic energy for said imaging comprises high frequency ultrasound transmission and reception.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein said high frequency comprises a range of about 2 MHz to about 50 MHz.
 10. The method of claim 8, wherein said high frequency comprises a range of about 5 MHz to about 30 MHz.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein said delivering of said ultrasonic energy for said rupturing comprises low frequency ultrasound transmission and reception.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein said delivering of said ultrasonic energy for said rupturing comprises high power.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein high power comprise at least about 20 kPa.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein high power comprise at least about 50 kPa.
 15. The method of claim 12, wherein high power comprise at least about 200 kPa.
 16. The method of claim 12, wherein high power comprise at least about 50 kPa.
 17. The method of claim 11, wherein said low frequency comprises a range of about 0.1 MHz to about 10 MHz.
 18. The method of claim 11, wherein said low frequency comprises a range of about 0.2 MHz to about 2 MHz.
 19. The method of claim 1, wherein said delivering of said ultrasonic energy is further adapted for: providing ultrasonic radiation forces for translating said microbubbles into or in the vicinity of the treatment site.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein said delivering of said ultrasonic energy for said translating comprises low frequency ultrasound transmission and reception.
 21. The method of 20, wherein said low frequency comprises a range of about 0.1 MHz to about 10 MHz.
 22. The method of claim 20, wherein said low frequency comprises a range of about 0.2 MHz to about 2 MHz.
 23. The method of claim 1, further comprising: delivering said microbubbles from an outlet port located on said catheter for translating said microbubbles into or in the vicinity of the treatment site.
 24. The method of claim 1, further comprising: delivering said microbubbles from a port located on a second catheter or a lumen for translating said microbubbles into or in the vicinity of the treatment site.
 25. The method of claim 1, further comprising: delivering said microbubbles from a microfluidic flow-focusing device located on said catheter for translating said microbubbles into or in the vicinity of the treatment site.
 26. The method of claim 1, further comprising: delivering said microbubbles from a microfluidic flow-focusing device located on a second catheter or a lumen for translating said microbubbles into or in the vicinity of the treatment site.
 27. The method of claim 1, wherein said microbubbles comprises a contrast agent.
 28. The method of claim 1, wherein said microbubbles comprises a drug composition or agent composition, or drug and agent composition.
 29. The method of claim 28, wherein said drug composition or agent composition, or said drug and agent composition, being disposed: a) in the shell of said microbubbles, b) in the core of said microbubbles, c) outside the shell of said microbubbles, or d) any combination of two or more of elements a, b and c.
 30. The method of claim 28, wherein said shells being comprised with lipids, phospholipids, oils, fats, lipopolymers, polymers, proteins, surfactants or combinations thereof.
 31. The method of claim 28, wherein the thickness of the shell thickness may vary from monomolecular 1 nm, to multimolecular and multilamellar, up to and including about 1,000 nm.
 32. The method of claim 28, wherein the thickness of the shell thickness may vary from monomolecular 0.1 nm, to multimolecular and multilamellar, up to and including about 10,000 nm.
 33. The method of claim 28, wherein said drug composition comprises at least one of the following: antiproliferative, immunosuppressive, or antiinflammatory drug.
 34. The method of claim 28, wherein said drug composition may be selected from a group consisting: actinomycin-D, batimistat, c-myc antisense, dexamethasone, paclitaxel, taxanes, sirolimus, tacrolimus and everolimus, unfractionated heparin, low-molecular weight heparin, enoxaprin, bivalirudin, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, Gleevec, wortmannin, PDGF inhibitors, AG1295, rho kinase inhibitors, Y27632, calcium channel blockers, TRAM-34, IKCa channel blockers, amlodipine, nifedipine, and ACE inhibitors, S1P1 and/or S1P3 receptor antagonists, sphingosine kinase 1 inhibitors, synthetic polysaccharides, ticlopinin, dipyridamole, clopidogrel, fondaparinux, streptokinase, urokinase, r-urokinase, r-prourokinase, rt-PA, APSAC, TNK-rt-PA, reteplase, alteplase, monteplase, lanoplase, pamiteplase, staphylokinase, abciximab, tirofiban, orbofiban, xemilofiban, sibrafiban, roxifiban, an anti-restenosis agent, an anti-thrombogenic agent, an antibiotic, an anti-platelet agent, an anti-clotting agent, an anti-inflammatory agent, an anti-neoplastic agent, a chelating agent, penicillamine, triethylene tetramine dihydrochloride, EDTA, DMSA (succimer), deferoxamine mesylate, a radiocontrast agent, a radio-isotope, a prodrug, antibody fragments, antibodies, gene therapy agents, viral vectors and plasmid DNA vectors.
 35. The method of claim 28, wherein said drug composition comprising a coated microbubbles that posses a selected molecular attachment ligand.
 36. The method of claim 1, wherein said microbubble comprises an internal core filled with the gas, gas-vapor mixture or gas precursor phase, or any combination thereof.
 37. The method of claim 36, wherein said gas having molecular mass from about 10 to about
 360. 38. The method of claim 36, wherein said gas having molecular mass from about 1 to about 3,600.
 39. The method of claim 1, wherein said microbubbles comprise a decafluorobutane core.
 40. The method of claim 1, wherein the shells of said microbubbles comprise a gas or mixture of two or more gases or gas precursors.
 41. The method of claim 40, wherein said delivered rupturing energy is provided to at least one of the following: trigger transference into a gas phase, change volume of the gas core, or destroy the microbubbles.
 42. The method of claim 1, wherein said delivering ultrasonic energy comprises: activating an ultrasound transducer source disposed within said distal region of said catheter.
 43. The method of claim 42, wherein said ultrasound transducer source comprises: a therapeutic transducer for said rupturing of said microbubbles; and an imaging transducer for said imaging of the treatment site.
 44. The method of claim 43, wherein said therapeutic transducer and said imaging transducer are essentially longitudinally aligned with one another.
 45. The method of claim 43, wherein said therapeutic transducer and said imaging transducer are essentially vertically overlaying one another.
 46. The method of claim 42, wherein said ultrasound transducer source comprises: a) a therapeutic transducer for said translating said microbubbles; b) an imaging transducer for translating said microbubbles; c) a translating transducer for translating said microbubbles; d) any combination of elements a, b or c; e) said ultrasound transducer source is configured to perform any combination of a, b, or c; or f) said ultrasound transducer source is configured to perform any two of a, b, or c, and any one of a, b, or c.
 47. The method of claim 1, further comprising: gating said imaging ultrasonic energy and said rupturing ultrasonic energy, whereby they deliver energy temporally exclusive.
 48. The method of claim 1, further comprising: gating said imaging ultrasonic energy and said rupturing ultrasonic energy, whereby they deliver energy simultaneously or at least partially simultaneously.
 49. The method of claim 1, further comprising: occluding or partially occluding said infusion of microbubbles upstream or downstream from the treatment site.
 50. The method of claim 1, further comprising: occluding or partially occluding said infusion of microbubbles upstream from the treatment site; and occluding or partially occluding said infusion of microbubbles downstream from the treatment site.
 51. An ultrasound catheter system for providing therapy to a treatment site at one or more locations of a subject, the system comprising: a tubular member having a proximal region and distal region, said proximal end of said ultrasound catheter adapted to advance to or in proximity to the subject's treatment site; a microbubble reservoir in hydraulic communication with said tubular member, said microbubble reservoir is adapted to release microbubbles that are intended to be located into or proximal to the treatment site; an ultrasonic energy source in communication with said distal region of said tubular member, said ultrasonic energy adapted for: imaging the treatment site, and rupturing said microbubbles; and control circuitry configured to send electrical activation to said ultrasonic energy source.
 52. The system of claim 51 wherein said one or more locations comprise at least a portion of an organ.
 53. The system of claim 52, wherein said organ comprises hollow organs, solid organs, parenchymal tissue, stromal tissue, and/or ducts.
 54. The system of claim 51, where the one or more locations of the subject comprises at least a portion of a tubular structure.
 55. The system of claim 54, wherein said tubular structure comprises a blood vessel.
 56. The system of claim 51, wherein the vasculature treatment site comprises at least on of the following: stenosis region or any region exhibiting vascular disease.
 57. The system of claim 51, wherein said ultrasonic energy for said imaging comprises high frequency ultrasound transmission and reception:
 58. The system of claim 57, wherein said high frequency comprises a range of about 2 MHz to about 50 MHz.
 59. The system of claim 58, wherein said high frequency comprises a range of about 5 MHz to about 30 MHz.
 60. The system of claim 51, wherein said rupturing comprises low frequency ultrasound transmission and reception.
 61. The system of claim 60, wherein said ultrasonic energy for said rupturing comprises high power.
 62. The system of claim 61, wherein high power comprises at least about 20 kPa.
 63. The system of claim 61, wherein high power comprises at least about 50 kPa.
 64. The system of claim 61, wherein high power comprises at least about 200 kPa.
 65. The system of claim 61, wherein high power comprises at least about 50 kPa.
 66. The system of claim 60, wherein said low frequency comprises a range of about 0.1 MHz to about 10 MHz.
 67. The system of claim 60, wherein said low frequency comprises a range of about 0.2 MHz to about 2 MHz.
 68. The system of claim 51, wherein s said ultrasonic energy is further adapted for: providing ultrasonic radiation forces for translating said microbubbles into or in the vicinity of the treatment site.
 69. The system of claim 68, wherein said ultrasonic energy for said translating comprises low frequency ultrasound transmission and reception.
 70. The system of claim 69, wherein said low frequency comprises a range of about 0.1 MHz to about 10 MHz.
 71. The system of claim 69, wherein said low frequency comprises a range of about 0.2 MHz to about 2 MHz.
 72. The system of claim 51, further comprising: an outlet port disposed on said tubular member in communication with said microbubble reservoir to allow microbubbles to exit from said reservoir, wherein said microbubbles being intended to be translated into or in the vicinity of the treatment site.
 73. The system of claim 51, further comprising: an outlet port disposed on a second tubular member or a lumen in communication with said microbubble reservoir to allow microbubbles to exit from said reservoir, wherein said microbubbles being intended to be translated into or in the vicinity of the treatment site.
 74. The system of claim 51, further comprising: a microfluidic flow-focusing device in communication with said tubular member to allow microbubbles to exit from said reservoir, wherein said microbubbles being intended to be translated into or in the vicinity of the treatment site.
 75. The system of claim 51, further comprising: a microfluidic flow-focusing device in communication with a second tubular member or a lumen to allow microbubbles to exit from said reservoir, wherein said microbubbles being intended to be translated into or in the vicinity of the treatment site.
 76. The system of claim 51, wherein said microbubbles comprises a contrast agent.
 77. The system of claim 51, wherein said microbubbles comprises a drug composition or agent composition, or a drug and agent composition.
 78. The system of claim 77, wherein said drug or agent composition, or said drug and agent composition, being disposed: a) in the shell of said microbubbles, b) in the core or core multiplicity of said microbubbles, c) outside the shell of said microbubbles, or d) any combination of two or more of elements a, b and c.
 79. The system of claim 77, wherein said shells being comprised with lipids, phospholipids, oils, fats, lipopolymers, polymers, proteins, surfactants or combinations thereof.
 80. The system of claim 77, wherein the thickness of the shell thickness may vary from monomolecular 1 nm, to multimolecular and multilamellar, up to and including about 1,000 nm.
 81. The system of claim 77, wherein the thickness of the shell thickness may vary from monomolecular 0.1 nm, to multimolecular and multilamellar, up to and including about 10,000 nm.
 82. The system of claim 77, wherein said drug composition comprises at least one of the following: antiproliferative, immunosuppressive, or antiinflammatory drug.
 83. The system of claim 77, wherein said drug composition may be selected from a group consisting: actinomycin-D, batimistat, c-myc antisense, dexamethasone, paclitaxel, taxanes, sirolimus, tacrolimus and everolimus, unfractionated heparin, low-molecular weight heparin, enoxaprin, bivalirudin, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, Gleevec, wortmannin, PDGF inhibitors, AG1295, rho kinase inhibitors, Y27632, calcium channel blockers, TRAM-34, IKCa channel blockers, amlodipine, nifedipine, and ACE inhibitors, S1P1 and/or S1P3 receptor antagonists, sphingosine kinase 1 inhibitors, synthetic polysaccharides, ticlopinin, dipyridamole, clopidogrel, fondaparinux, streptokinase, urokinase, r-urokinase, r-prourokinase, rt-PA, APSAC, TNK-rt-PA, reteplase, alteplase, monteplase, lanoplase, pamiteplase, staphylokinase, abciximab, tirofiban, orbofiban, xemilofiban, sibrafiban, roxifiban, an anti-restenosis agent, an anti-thrombogenic agent, an antibiotic, an anti-platelet agent, an anti-clotting agent, an anti-inflammatory agent, an anti-neoplastic agent, a chelating agent, penicillamine, triethylene tetramine dihydrochloride, EDTA, DMSA (succimer), deferoxamine mesylate, a radiocontrast agent, a radio-isotope, a prodrug, antibody fragments, antibodies, gene therapy agents, viral vectors and plasmid DNA vectors.
 84. The system of claim 77, wherein said drug composition comprising a coated microbubbles that posses a selected molecular attachment ligand.
 85. The system of claim 51, wherein said microbubble comprises an internal core filled with the gas, gas-vapor mixture or gas precursor phase, or any combination thereof.
 86. The system of claim 85, wherein said gas having molecular mass from about 10 to about
 360. 87. The system of claim 85, wherein said gas having molecular mass from about 1 to about 3,600.
 88. The system of claim 51, wherein said microbubbles comprise a decafluorobutane core.
 89. The system of claim 51, wherein the shells of said microbubbles comprise a gas or mixture of two or more gases or gas precursors.
 90. The system of claim 89., wherein said delivered rupturing energy is provided to at least one of the following: trigger transference into a gas phase, change volume of the gas core, or destroy the microbubbles.
 91. The system of claim 51, wherein said ultrasonic energy comprises: an ultrasound transducer source.
 92. The system of claim 91, wherein said ultrasound transducer being disposed within said distal region of said tubular member.
 93. The system of claim 91, wherein said ultrasound transducer source comprises: a therapeutic transducer for said rupturing of said microbubbles; and an imaging transducer for said imaging of the treatment site.
 94. The system of claim 93, wherein said therapeutic transducer and said imaging transducer are essentially longitudinally aligned with one another.
 95. The system of claim 93, wherein said therapeutic transducer and said imaging transducer are essentially vertically overlaying one another.
 96. The system of claim 91, wherein said ultrasound transducer source comprises: a) a therapeutic transducer for said translating said microbubbles; b) an imaging transducer for translating said microbubbles; c) a translating transducer for translating said microbubbles; d) any combination of elements a, b, or c e) said ultrasound transducer source is configured for performing any combination of a, b, or c; or f) said ultrasound transducer source is configured for performing any two of a, b, or c, and any one of a, b, or c.
 97. The system of claim 51, wherein said controller gates said imaging ultrasonic energy and said rupturing ultrasonic energy, whereby they deliver energy temporally exclusive.
 98. The system of claim 51, wherein said controller gates said imaging ultrasonic energy and said rupturing ultrasonic energy, whereby they deliver energy simultaneously or at least partially simultaneously.
 99. The system of claim 51, further comprising an occlusion device or partial-occlusion device disposed either upstream or downstream from said treatment site to occlude or partially occlude said infused microbubbles.
 100. The system of claim 51, further comprising: a first occlusion device or partial-occlusion device disposed upstream from said treatment site to occlude or partially occlude said infused microbubbles at said treatment site; and a second occlusion device or partial-occlusion device disposed downstream from said treatment site to occlude or partially occlude said infused microbubbles at said treatment site. 